Algeria crowned 2019 Africa Cup of Nations champions

Algeria won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title for the first time in 29 years, narrowly edging out Senegal 1-0 in the final at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday evening.

Read: Focus on coaches as AFCON final takes centre stage

Baghdad Bounedjah netted a ‘freak’ early goal when his shot took a huge deflection off Salif Sane and looped over Senegal goalkeeper Alfred Gomes with just three minutes on the clock.

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For the Desert Foxes’ boss Djamel Belmadi it was a dream debut AFCON showpiece after delivering the title having taken over the Algerian managerial position just a year ago.

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The Teranga Lions on the other hand, who had lost to Algeria by the same scoreline in the group stage, saw the long wait for a first continental crown continue as coach Aliou Cisse, who captained the team that ended second in 2002, fell short once again in the final.

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Senegal, who have never won the competition, thought they had won a penalty when Cameroonian referee Alioum Alioum pointed to the spot for a suspected handball by Adlene Guedioura. Alioum however overturned the ruling after a VAR review.

Cisse’s charges never looked like getting back into the game again as the Algerians closed out the rest of the game, holding their nerves to clinch their first title since 1990.