Equatorial Guinea surprises Algeria

Algeria, reigning African champions, is down, last in its group in the African Cup of Nations (CAN) and on the verge of elimination after being surprised by Equatorial Guinea (1-0 ), Sunday in Douala.

The Nzalang Nacional hero is called Esteban Orozco Fernández Obiang Obono, but EOFO Obono is also suitable. He appeared at the far post on a deflected corner to surprise the great Algerian favorite (70^and minute). Algeria’s unbeaten streak therefore stops at thirty-five games, it will not beat Italy’s thirty-seven games.

But there is more serious for the men of Djamel Belmadi, very agitated throughout the match. With only one point in two games and zero goals scored, they are last in their group, before a third meeting against another favorite, Côte d’Ivoire. The Elephants will have the opportunity to kick the defending champion out of the competition, already trapped in the first match by Sierra Leone (0-0).

Algeria is last in a group full of surprises: Côte d’Ivoire has 4 points, Equatorial Guinea 3 and Sierra Leone 2, after equalizing at the last second against the Elephants on an error by the Ivorian goalkeeper (2 -2).

Absolutely beat Ivory Coast

With only one small point, Algeria is obliged to beat Ivory Coast, otherwise it returns to Algiers much earlier than expected. “Having one point out of six is ​​obviously not what we had envisioned. Of course, we do not plan to leave this competition. We’re gonna give everything “ against the Elephants, wants to believe coach Djamel Belmadi.

The African champions can blame themselves: they missed a lot of chances, like these three strikes in a row repelled by Jesus Owono, the substitute goalkeeper of Deportivo Alaves (22^and).

Among all the chances Algeria missed was a shot by Youcef Atal (42^and), a deflected free kick from Youcef Belaïli (69^and), a header from Ramy Bensebaïni (70^and). Until the end the Greens pushed, but in vain.

“You can outrageously dominate a game and come out with 0 points, 0 goals. (…) The ball did not want to enter the bottom. We created many situations, but we did not materialize, whether from a free kick or a corner. What do you want ? We are in the hard, we are in difficulty, we have big difficulties ”, lamented the Algerian coach.

Iban Edu Salvador man of the match

But Equatorial Guinea, which is participating in its third CAN – the first for which it qualifies, after having organized or co-organized two – did not steal its victory.

She owes a lot to the charisma of Iban Edu Salvador, with her hair dyed pink. Elected man of the match, the player from L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (Spain), in a Spanish lower division, spent a lot of time demanding yellow cards from the referee.

But the warrior, a sort of Equatorial Guinean Thiago Motta, is also the best technical element of the Nzalang (“Antelope”), as shown by his fine pass for Luis Nlavo, who struck on Mbholi (50^and).

Iban Edu also hit a free kick, saved close to the post by Mbholi (37^and), stimulated, simulated, harangued, ran and played until the last moment of the match. He is Algeria’s nightmare.