Mahrez scores as Algeria reach AFCON quarters

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:21 am
Algeria reaffirmed their status as one of the teams to beat at the Africa Cup of Nations.
MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP/Getty Images

Superbly-taken goals from Algeria's Youcef Belaili and Riyad Mahrez set them on the way to a 3-0 win over Guinea on Sunday and a place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals, reaffirming their status as one of the favourites.

While the previous five last-16 ties had produced a heady mixture of shocks, drama and comebacks, Sunday's match was straightforward as Algeria, yet to concede a goal at the tournament, won their fourth straight match.

The Desert Foxes were strong in defence, intelligent in midfield, ruthless in attack and played with a swagger that suggested they believe they are on course to lift the cup again.

Belaili broke the deadlock after playing a one-two with Baghdad Bounedjah in the 24th minute and Mahrez, following some sublime control, lashed home the second just before the hour.

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Substitute Adam Ounas added the third on the break in the 82nd minute, making him joint tournament top-scorer with three goals alongside Senegal's Sadio Mane and Nigeria's Odion Ighalo.

Algeria, whose one previous title came in 1990, will face either Ivory Coast or Mali in the quarter-finals, and coach Djamel Belmadi was not worried about their favourites tag.

"It doesn't cost anything to believe in ourselves. We said from the very beginning we were here to win," he told reporters.

On Sunday, Algeria were quickly on the attack as a ball floated over the Guinea defence was chested down by Bounedjah but he fired wide.

Guinea's attacks mainly consisted of long balls aimed towards Jose Kante but he got little change out of the Algerian defence.

A period of sustained Algeria pressure led to the first goal.

First Bounedjah shot wide from eight metres and Guinea escaped again when Ismail Bennacer produced an acrobatic volley which was saved by Ibrahima Kone.

But there was no let-off from the next superbly executed move as Belaili exchanged passes with Bounedjah before slotting a low shot past Kone from a narrow angle.

After a scrappy start to the second half, Mady Camara gave Algeria goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi something to do with a long-range shot which he turned over the bar. But Guinea were soon on the rack again.

Bennacer found Mahrez with a pass across the face of the penalty area and the Manchester City player caressed the ball past a defender before sending Kone the wrong way from 20 metres.

Algeria spent the rest of the match stroking the ball around but there was time for a third when Youcef Atal won possession, burst down the flank and laid the ball into the path of Ounas to score from close range.

"Before we conceded we were in this match. But as soon as we made our defensive error, it was difficult," said Guinea coach Paul Put. "With this Algerian side it is very hard to come back. Algeria were better than Guinea today and deserved their win."