Baghdad Bounedjah’s dramatic header in the fifth minute of injury time secured a crucial 2-2 draw for Algeria against Burkina Faso in a highly contested Africa Cup of Nations match on Saturday. The late equalizer prevented Burkina Faso from sealing a spot in the last 16 and kept Algeria’s hopes alive.
Mohamed Konate initially gave Burkina Faso the lead, only for Bounedjah to equalize for Algeria. Bertrand Traore’s penalty then put Burkina Faso back in front, sparking joy among their fans in the crowd of over 33,000 in Bouake, Ivory Coast. The Stallions were on track to advance, but Bounedjah’s late heroics leveled the score once again.
Bounedjah’s double at the death not only salvaged a point for Algeria but also propelled him to joint-top scorer of the tournament with three goals, sharing the position with Emilio Nsue of Equatorial Guinea.
Burkina Faso, the 2013 Cup of Nations runners-up, now have four points from two Group D matches, positioning them well for qualification as they face Angola next. Algeria, previously held to a 1-1 draw by Angola, have two points and need a win against Mauritania in their final group game to advance.
The late goal spared Algeria the potential repeat of their 2019 disappointment, where the reigning champions were eliminated in the group stage with just one point and one goal. In the challenging conditions of a match played in sapping mid-afternoon heat, both teams fought hard in a thrilling encounter. The outcome sets the stage for a crucial final group match for both Algeria and Burkina Faso.
Source: AFP
