Guinea’s hopes were dashed as they could only manage a 1-1 draw with Algeria at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium on Friday, leaving them out of contention in the tournament. Algeria started on the front foot, with Aimen Mahious directing a header into Guinea keeper Mory Keita’s hands. A contentious moment followed in the 18th minute when Mohamed Diabate tripped Bilel Boukerchaoui in the box and Cameroonian referee Mefire waved play on after Algeria appealed for a penalty. Mezian Ben Tahar then tested Keita with a low drive that the Guinea custodian did well to parry, as the first half ended with Guinea still in the contest.
Five minutes after the break, Alhassane Bangoura fired a grounder that Zakaria Bouhalfaya did well to stop. Guinea did not relent, and Ismael Camara of Horoya Athletic Club found the back of the net from just outside the box to give Guinea a late lead. The lead lasted only minutes, as Adem Alilet of USM Alger curled in a goal in the 88th minute to level at 1-1. With that scoreline, Guinea bowed out of the competition, while Bangoura celebrated a second MVP accolade of the tournament for his contributions.
Across the night, Niger and South Africa approached their matches more as a test of their long-term chances than a bid for victory on the night. In the 17th minute, South Africa pressed for a penalty after Kaketso Majadibodu was clipped by Ridouane Assane, but a VAR review showed no handball by Mohamed Abdourhamane Moumouni, nullifying the appeal. Niger’s goalkeeper Mahamadou Tanja produced a string of standout saves, earning him MVP honors on the night as South Africa failed to convert their chances.
Looking ahead, Saturday’s fixtures include Burkina Faso vs Madagascar and Central African Republic vs Mauritania.
What to watch next
– Bangoura’s continued impact for Guinea will be a storyline to follow as the team shifts focus to rebuilding and development for future campaigns.
– Niger’s and South Africa’s goalkeeping and defensive organization, exemplified by Tanja’s performance, could influence their approach in upcoming matches.
– With Guinea out, attention may shift to how teams recover and regroup for the next stage of qualifying or tournament play.
Summary
Guinea’s campaign ended with a 1-1 draw against Algeria, capping a difficult run that saw Bangoura score and be named MVP for the second time, but not enough to keep Guinea in the competition. Meanwhile, Niger and South Africa’s matches highlighted solid goalkeeping and tight defenses, with South Africa’s late penalty appeal denied by VAR. The weekend slate features Burkina Faso vs Madagascar and Central African Republic vs Mauritania.