Defending champions Algeria failed in the first round of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The team led by Gladbach’s Ramy Bensebaini lost their final game in Group E 3-1 (2-0) against Ivory Coast and were eliminated last with just one point.
Franck Kessie (23rd), Ibrahim Sangare (39th) and Nicolas Pepe (54th) secured the two-time African champions (7 points) a place in the round of 16 as group winners with their goals. Leverkusen’s Odilon Kossounou was in the starting eleven for the Ivory Coast.
Sofiane Bendebka scored for Algeria (73′), Riyad Mahrez had previously put a penalty kick on the post (60′).
Equatorial Guinea (6) are also in the knockout stages after beating Sierra Leone (2) 1-0 (1-0). For Sierra Leone, Kei Kamara (85th) missed the great opportunity to equalize with a penalty.
A draw would have been enough for Sierra Leone to progress to the last 16 as one of the top four in third place in their group.
.
