Lions Of Chinguetti Tame Desert Foxes In The Battle Of AFCON Round Of 16 Qualification, Pip Algeria 1--0
By Olopade Sakiru
The Mauritania National football team, the Lions of Chinguetti, shocked the whole world with a stunning defeat of Desert Foxes of Algeria in the last group D game that led to the exit of the 2019 AFCON Champions.
The Lions of Chinguetti as they are fondly called, for the first time in their history, Mauritania won a game at AFCON which was enough to earn them qualification ticket for the knock out stage of the tournament.
Mauritania, tagged, the underdog held on to the lead till the end of the 1st half.
At resumption of the second half, Riyad Mahrez was introduced to the game to add pep to the attack but it was effort in futility as Mauritania warded off all dangers.
Babacar Niase, was like a rock of Gibraltar, making daring saves. What could have been an equalizer was tipped over the bar from a close header by Bondaoui after a pin-point cross from Mahrez. He made another brilliant save when he denied Aissa Mandi from scoring from a point blank range.
In the 11 minutes added time, coach Djamel Belmadi of Desert Foxes who had an embarrassing outing at THE 2023 AFCON , even without a win, pushed on ceaselessly for an equalizer but the tall and well organized opponent was equal to the task, absorbing and soaking all the pressures.
Angola defeated Burkina Faso by two goals to nill in the same group, to top the table with seven points, Burkina Faso is placed second with four points and Mauritania advanced to the knock out stage with three points.
In other AFCON games decided yesterday in group C :
* Gambia 2 vr Cameroon 3
*Guinea 0 vr Senegal 2
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