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TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2019

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CAIRO: Algeria’s forward (R) scores from a free-kick during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Semi-final football match between Algeria and Nigeria at the International stadium. —AFP Mahrez stunner sends Algeria into final ‘It’s my most important goal for the national dream’

CAIRO: Riyad Mahrez rifled in a stoppage-time free- my most important goal for the national dream. Yes, it’s Mahrez leads by example After gathering the ball on the right Mahrez danced kick to earn Algeria a dramatic 2-1 victory over three- my dream to win it and hopefully we will be able to.” Leading scorers in the tournament and considered past Collins before sending over a cross that flicked off time champions Nigeria on Sunday and set up a Nigeria coach conceded Algeria were the most impressive side, Algeria quickly asserted them- the left-back and struck a helpless Troost-Ekong in the rematch with in the Africa Cup of Nations worthy winners after denying the Super Eagles the selves as headed narrowly over before midriff before tricking over the line. Rohr has regularly final. Algeria led through a first-half own goal by chance to compete in an eighth final. “I have to con- a wicked Youcef Belaili cross nearly lead to a goal for praised his side’s resilience, particularly the way they William Troost-Ekong before Nigeria equalized with gratulate the players for a big fight against this very . Hesitant defending from Kenneth bounced back from a shock loss to Madagascar to elim- an penalty on 72 minutes awarded after a good team. They won it in the last minute and they Omeruo just outside his own area then allowed inate defending champions Cameroon, and Nigeria VAR review. deserved it,” said Rohr. “A wonderful free-kick made Bounedjah to nip in, but the Al-Sadd striker could only again hit back with the aid of VAR. However, as extra time looked necessary, Mahrez the difference.” shoot tamely at . Gambian referee Bakary Gassama initially dis- blasted in from 20 yards with the last kick of the match An injury to , who fractured his collar- Seemingly having moved on from the penalty miss missed Nigerian penalty appeals when a to send the Desert Foxes through to their first final since bone during the quarter-final win over Ivory Coast on that reduced him to tears in the last round, Bounedjah shot struck the arm of Aissa Mandi but reversed that lifting the trophy for the only time in 1990. Algeria will penalties, forced to start was consistently proving a nuisance to a nervy Nigeria decision, with Ighalo sending Rais Mbohli the wrong take on Sadio Mane’s Senegal for the title on July 19, in a at right-back, while Nigeria fielded the same team that backline with relieved to see a toed clear- way from the spot for his competition-best fourth repeat of a group stage clash they won 1-0. “We are overcame South Africa here. Algeria supporters filled ance land on the roof of the net. Nigeria countered goal. blazed over late on and extra very happy to be in the final of the Africa Cup of most of the lower tier at one end of the ground, dwarfing intermittently as Ighalo dragged wide after Mahrez was time beckoned after Ismael Bennacer rattled the bar Nations because it is something very special,” said a small section of Nigeria fans, but there were large caught in possession, but the Manchester City winger in stoppage time, but Mahrez incredibly won it in the Mahrez. “It was our goal to do it for the people and for swathes of empty seats at the 75,000-capacity Cairo promptly atoned as Algeria made the breakthrough on 95th minute with a thunderous strike into the top our families. We know they are behind us all the way. It’s International Stadium. 40 minutes. corner. —AFP

Algeria or Nigeria, who meet in Cairo later Sunday, Tunisia had the first clearcut chance at the 30 Senegal reach after he was yellow-carded. June Stadium in the Egyptian capital, but It was the second caution of the knockout phase unmarked captain headed a cor- for the Napoli centre-back and triggered an auto- ner well over. Senegal then took control and had Cup of Nations matic one-match suspension. Senegal last reached three opportunities before half-time to end the the title decider 17 years ago, when current coach deadlock and edge closer to the July 19 final. Aliou Cisse captained a team beaten on penalties by unleashed a curling shot from the final as own Cameroon in Mali. “I congratulate (Tunisia and for- edge of the box that beat Mouez only to cannon mer Senegal coach) because he left back into play off the woodwork. goal sinks Tunisia me a good group. He did a good job in Senegal,” Then, in a 60-second purple patch, Mbaye said Cisse. “The match was incredible because of Niang and Mane were unable to convert chances CAIRO: Senegal reached the Africa Cup of Nations the uncertainty — it will remain in the annals of before a small crowd. Niang swivelled inside the final for the second time with a own African football.” French football legend Giresse box before firing well wide and Mane rounded the goal giving them a 1-0 win over Tunisia on Sunday said: “We were equal to Senegal and had opportu- goalkeeper but his shot from an acute angle fin- in a tense last-four clash in Cairo. With 11 minutes nities, but did not know how to transform them. “I ished off target. Giresse took off Msakni at half- gone in extra time, goalkeeper am the number one supporter of Aliou Cisse. He will time and introduced Naim Sliti, scorer of the stop- pushed a free-kick against the head of Bronn and become a coach who will surpass what he achieved page-time goal that sealed a convincing last-eight the ball went backwards into the net. Tunisia as a player. He will win the Cup of Nations.” win over giantkillers Madagascar. thought they would have a chance to equalize when Senegal goalkeeper , a virtual handled in the box, but the Ethiopian Clearcut chance spectator in the opening half, reacted quickly referee reversed his original decision to award a Cisse made one change to the team that defeat- early in the second half to push away a Sassi penalty after watching replays at the VAR monitor. ed Benin in the quarter-finals with 20-year-old for- snap shot. Attackers Niang and Diatta were hav- Both teams missed penalties in regular time with ward Krepin Diatta replacing Keita Balde. Giresse ing little success and came off with Mbaye the Tunisian culprit before changed two of the side that eliminated Diagne and Ismaila Sarr replacing them as an failed for the Senegalese. Liverpool star Sadio Mane Madagascar, promoting Mohamed Drager and intriguing semi-final entered the final quarter. began the tournament as the first-choice Senegal Ayman Ben Mohamed and benching The Sassi penalty was weak, allowing Gomis to CAIRO: Senegal’s goalkeeper Alfred Gomis and Senegal’s forward Keita Balde celebrate after penalty taker but, after missing two, opted out and Ghaylen Chaaleli. The countries were meeting save comfortably, while Hassen made a brilliant winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Semi-final football match between Senegal and for the sixth time in the Cup of Nations with each one-hand block to foil a powerfully struck spot- before the quarter-finals. Senegal will miss star Tunisia. —AFP defender for the final against winning one match and the other three drawn. kick by Saivet. —AFP