Algeria 2-2 Burkina Faso: Bounedjah's late strike rescues point for Algeria

Algeria scored a stoppage-time equaliser to avoid defeat at the Africa Cup of Nations finals on Saturday, drawing 2-2 with Burkina Faso in Group D in Bouake.

Baghdad Bounedjah scored from a corner five minutes into stoppage time to give his team a share of the spoils and deny Burkina Faso an early passage to the next round.

Bounedjah scored both Algerian goals, while Mohamed Konate and Bertrand Traore scored for Burkina Faso, who remain first in the group with four points to Algeria's two.

Burkina Faso came agonizingly close to a smash-and-grab victory that would have advanced them to the last 16 with a guaranteed top two finish. They were under pressure for much of the match, but two VAR decisions went their way.

Algeria failed to capitalize on their first-half opportunities, with Youcef Belaili wasting one as Burkinabe goalkeeper Herve Koffi appeared nervous and twice cleared balls straight to the Algerians, who were unable to finish.

Almost inevitably, Burkina scored in stoppage time at the end of the first half, when Abdoul Fessal Tapsoba's long ball went over the Algerian defence and was headed home by a leaping Konate. The whistle was immediately blown for offside, but a VAR check ruled in Konate's favor.

Algeria equalised in the 51st minute when a free kick was partially blocked and fell to Nabil Bentaleb, whose shot was parried by the goalkeeper down to the feet of Bounedjah, who recovered quickly to sweep the ball in from close range.

Substitute Traore restored Burkina Faso's lead from the penalty spot in the 71st minute, after also scoring a stoppage time penalty in their first Group D game against Mauritania.

Another VAR check went Burkina's way, revealing Rayan Ait Nouri's wild tackle on Issa Kabore. The referee had not given the kick, but replays revealed that Ait Nouri had missed the ball as he attempted to clear, catching Kabore on the shin.

Algeria got some relief late in the game when Bounedjah leaped up to head home from a corner kick.

Algeria won the Cup of Nations in 2019, but they had a disastrous defence of their title in Cameroon two years ago, finishing last in their group with a single point, and they faced a similar situation again after drawing their opening game against Angola in the Ivory Coast.

SportsLigue