ALGERIA were off to an incredible start in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal – scoring the most fortunate goal just two minutes in. Following a solo run down the left flank, Al Sadd forward Baghdad Bounedjah’s strike stunned goalkeeper Alfred Gomis after taking a massive deflection on its way. The ball went […]
ALGERIA were off to an incredible start in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal – scoring the most fortunate goal just two minutes in.
Following a solo run down the left flank, Al Sadd forward Baghdad Bounedjah’s strike stunned goalkeeper Alfred Gomis after taking a massive deflection on its way.
The ball went skyward when it hit the leg of Senegal defender Salif Sane.
And it then lobbed over Gomis, with the motionless shot-stopper only observing how it rattles the net of his goal.
Although fortunate, it was Bounedjah’s second goal of the tournament.
He opened the scoring when converting a penalty in Algeria’s first match of the tournament – the 2-0 victory over Kenya.
But Djamel Belmadi’s men lead in the final was certainly not down to pure luck.
They have not lost a single game at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, with the only draw coming against Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals.
And Riyad Mahrez and Co have already beaten Senegal 1-0 in the group stages, thanks to Youcef Belaili’s second-half goal.
Belmadi’s side have been waiting 29 years for the AFCON title.
Algeria’s only triumph came in 1990, when they hosted the tournament and beat Nigeria 1-0 in the final.
