Riyad Mahrez Sends Algeria Through To AFCON Final 1
Algeria (Credits: Twitter)

Riyad Mahrez struck home a free kick in the 95th minute of the game to send his team into the Africa Cup of Nations finals

The game was level until Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez scored a magnificent freekick in the 95th minute of the game against Nigeria. The goal saw Algeria enter the finals of a major tournament for the first time since 1990. They also won the tournament only once when they reached the final last in 1990.

Algerians dominated the game since the starting but looked wasteful in the opposition box. They missed a lot of easy chances as they lacked the decisive finishing. Algerian striker B. Bounedjah missed an open goal when he failed to place a cross inside the net. He got few more chances but Nigerian goalkeeper D. Akpeyi always came out of his line at the right time to stop his attacks.

The Nigerian defence looked shaky as they somehow managed to keep the ball out of the net. The end of the first half saw William Troost-Ekong scoring an own goal from a Riyad Mahrez cross to give Algeria the lead.

The possession of the game shifted towards Nigeria in the second half, but they couln’t make much out of it, until they were handed a penalty. Midway through the second half Nigeria were awarded a penalty for a handball inside the Algerian 18 yard box, given by a lengthy VAR review. The penalty was converted by Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo. The score was level again at 72 minutes of the game.

The game seemed to be heading into extra time, only until Algeria were awarded a free kick from just outside the box for a foul. Riyad Mahrez took charge of the free kick and bent it across the Nigerian defense and goalkeeper to send his team into the Africa Cup of Nations final, 2019.

Algeria will face Senegal in the finals of AFCON. Senegal beat Tunisia 1-0 in the semifinals which was headed into extra time. An own goal by Tunisian Dylan Bronn in the 100th minute helped Senegal to advance to the finals.

Algeria captain and match winner Riyad Mahrez told in a post match interview: “It was a very, very tough game against a strong team. We were 1-0 up, good in the game and this decision of the VAR, of the penalty… they scored and we have this free kick and we scored, so we are very, very happy because to be in the final of AFCON is unbelievable.”