The Desert Foxes of Algeria joined Nigeria and host Egypt in the round of 16 after they defeated a star-studded Senegal side in their 2nd group C match. A Youcef Belaili 2nd-half goal was enough for the Desert Foxes to go to the summit of the group with 6 maximum points.
Senegal and Algeria are expected to qualify out of group C ahead of Tanzania and Kenya, the matchup between Senegal and Algeria was tagged to be the one that would decide which Nation claim the group's top spot and Algeria has placed a step closer to claiming that top spot with the win.
It was a physically charged encounter with Algeria responsible for 34 fouls while Senegal committed 18 fouls. The Desert Foxes did well keeping Liverpool ace Sadio Mane at bay for much of the game as the feisty 1st half ended in a goalless draw. Algeria came off the break with purpose and almost take the lead 3 minutes into the restart, but Sofiane Feghouli fired wide with the goal at his mercy. However, just a few seconds after that miss, Algeria took the lead in the 49th minute, Manchester City Riyad Mahrez put a through ball to Feghouli down the right of Senegalese goal and he smartly squared to Belaili who rifled into the net with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy flat-footed. Senegal would feel gutted midway through the 2nd half when Mane was hacked down in the box by 2 Algerian players but the referee waved play on, with the VAR not in use until the quarterfinals, Algeria were let off the hook. It ended 1 nil in favour of the Desert Foxes. A win in the last group match against the group weeping boys Tanzania means Algeria will top Group C.
Algeria has now joined Nigeria and hosts Egypt as the 3 Nations in the round of 16. It could be recalled that on Wednesday, Nigeria Super Eagle needed a 2nd half Kenneth Omeruo header from a Moses Simon corner kick to edge Equatorial Guinea 1 nil in their 2nd Group B match, to make the round of 16 with 2 wins out of 2 matches. Host Egypt soon joined the Eagles a few hours later, the Pharaohs of Egypt defeated DR Congo 2-0, 2 1st-half goals from Ahmed El-Mohamady(25 min) and Mo Salah(43 min) helped the Egyptians secure a round of 16 berths.
NORWAY 0-3 ENGLAND:
Away from the Africa cup of Nations to the FIFA Women's World Cup, as England women became the 1st side to qualify into the semifinal of the on-going Women's World Cup after comfortably dispatching Norway 3 nil. The 3 Lionesses got things started with an early 3rd-minute goal from Jill Scott's side-footed shot from a Lucy Bronze cut back and got their 2nd, late in the half when Ellen White tapped into an empty net after a square play from Nikita Parris. England made their place in the last 4 sure in the 2nd half with the 3rd goal from Bronze following a Beth Mead pass from a free-kick. It could have been 4 goals for England had Parris converted the penalty kick that was awarded to England late in the match, but Norway goalkeeper Ingrid Hjelmseth saved Parris weak kick.
A back-to-back world cup semifinal for England, as they now await in the semis for the winner between host France and the United State of America in one of the yet to be played quarterfinal match, for a place in the final.
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