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Established 1961 Sport SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2019 Mariners’ Mike Leake falls Nadal Tennis Academy to Wolves beat City on penalties 25 short of pitch perfection 26 be located in Kuwait soon 27 to win Asia Trophy in Shanghai Algeria claims second Africa Cup of Nations CAIRO: Algerian players celebrate after winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Final football match between Senegal and Algeria at the Cairo International Stadium. — AFP CAIRO: Baghdad Bounedjah’s early goal propelled conceded the goal very early and on the whole I think Napoli star Koulibaly, banned after two bookings in the Senegal thought they had won a penalty on the hour Algeria to a first Africa Cup of Nations title in 29 years we deserved to equalise but it didn’t happen,” said knockout rounds, although the towering Sane was des- when Cameroonian referee Alioum Alioum pointed to after a fiery 1-0 victory over Sadio Mane’s Senegal in Cisse. “I want to congratulate my players. We’ve been perately unlucky as Algeria grabbed the lead with scarce- the spot for a suspected handball by Adlene Guedioura, Friday’s final in Cairo. Bounedjah gave Algeria a dream working together a long time for this Cup of Nations ly a minute played. As Bounedjah took aim from 20 yards but the official reversed his decision after a VAR start in the second minute when his deflected shot and we wanted it but tonight it didn’t go our way.” his effort smacked off Sane and arced high into the air review. Niang rounded an advancing M’Bolhi after a looped over Senegal goalkeeper Alfred Gomis, and it It was the first title-decider to feature two African before dropping underneath the crossbar and beyond a searching ball through from Cheikhou Kouyate but the proved enough for the 1990 champions to lift the tro- coaches since 1998, with Algeria boss Djamel Belmadi static Gomis, sparking delirious celebrations from both forward sliced wide of the target from a tough angle, phy on foreign soil for the first time. completing a whirlwind 12 months at the helm after inherit- players and fans, some of whom arrived for the final on with the Algeria ‘keeper then acrobatically tipping over “It’s incredible. The win is for the whole country,” ing a side that failed to make it out of the group stage two military planes provided by the Algerian government. a rasping drive from Youssouf Sabaly. Algeria goalkeeper Rais M’Bolhi told beIN Sports. “We years ago. “Without the players I am nothing. They are the It was the first time Gomis had conceded in almost The Desert Foxes started to look jaded as Senegal have to thank (coach) Djamel Belmadi. The situation main ones. I suppose the staff played its part in guiding the 400 minutes in Egypt having replaced the injured brought on fresh legs in Krepin Diatta and Mbaye was tricky in the past before he arrived.” “It’s a bit hard players but they applied the instructions incredibly well,” Edouard Mendy ahead of Senegal’s final group game. Diagne, but Youcef Belaili nearly made it 2-0 when his to soak in right now but I think we’ll realise what we’ve said Belmadi. With defensive rock Kalidou Koulibaly sus- Henri Saivet, who missed a penalty in the 1-0 victory cross brushed the head of a defender and skimmed the done when we return home,” he added. pended for Senegal, Salif Sane deputised at the back and over Tunisia, tried to catch M’Bolhi out with a free-kick roof of the net. Sarr blazed over on the volley as Algeria For Senegal, who lost to Algeria by the same score- Ismaila Sarr was recalled in attack, while Belmadi kept faith while Mbaye Niang fizzed a powerful drive just over as clung on to their advantage in the closing minutes, the line in the group stage, the long wait for a first conti- in the same side that overcame Nigeria with an injury-time Senegal gradually showed signs of life before the half final whistle greeted by an outpouring of raw emotion nental crown goes on as coach Aliou Cisse, the captain free-kick from Riyad Mahrez. ended with both sets of players embroiled in a scuffle as the North Africans emerged worthy winners of the of the 2002 runners-up, again fell short in the final. “We Senegal had understandably feared the absence of as they headed for the tunnel. expanded 24-team event. — AFP Africa Cup champs Algeria return to heroes’ welcome ALGIERS: Africa Cup of Nations cham- where massive crowds have been taking pions Algeria arrived home yesterday to a part for the past several months, especially heroes’ welcome from a huge crowd of on Fridays, in anti-regime demonstrations. joyful supporters and a “water salute” for “This victory will very certainly breath their plane at Algiers airport. “One, two, new life” into the country, said the presi- three, viva Algeria!” tens of thousands of dent of the Algerian football federation, flag-waving fans lining the road from the Kheiredine Zetchi. It was inspired by “the airport chanted as the players went on a extraordinary momentum which is leading victory parade through the capital in an Algeria to better days”. open-top bus. Madjid, a 28-year-old fan, said: “I didn’t An early strike earned a 1-0 victory sleep all (Friday) night but I had to be here over Senegal in Friday’s final in Cairo, pro- at (the capital’s) May 1 Square”, where the pelling Algeria, known as the Fennec foxes, players on the bus were met with a sea of to a first Cup of Nations title in 29 years. supporters. On Friday night, Baghdad The players, with winner’s medals around Bounedjah gave Algeria a dream start in their necks and captain Ryad Mahrez the second minute when his deflected shot hoisting the cup in the air, were given a red looped over Senegal goalkeeper Alfred carpet welcome at the airport and greeted Gomis, and it proved enough for the 1990 by Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui. champions to lift the trophy on foreign soil Their bus was decorated with two stars, for the first time. Only 12 months ago, marking their second African Cup triumph, Algeria were in turmoil after the departure and emblazoned with the words “We are of former national team star Rabah Madjer, proud of you” in Arabic and Amazigh, or but the appointment of Djamel Belmadi Berber, the North African country’s two proved a stroke of genius from a federa- official languages. The scenes on the tion that had burned through five coaches ALGIERS: Algerians gather in the May 1st square in the capital as they prepare to welcome the Algerian national team. — AFP packed streets were familiar for Algeria in two turbulent years. — AFP .