AFCON 2021: Bensebaini and Algeria lose to Equatorial Guinea

Ramy Bensebaini and Algeria are still without a win after two group stage games at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. ‘Les Verts’ fell to a 1-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea on Sunday evening.

Fans at the Japoma Stadium witnessed an intense and hard-fought encounter between the sides. Borussia left-back Ramy Bensebaini (Photo: picture alliance/NurPhoto) was in the starting XI again, and was one of three players to be shown a yellow card within the opening nine minutes. The referee would hand out a total of seven bookings in the game. Despite Algeria dominating the game, it was Esteban Orozco who would net the winner for Equatorial Guinea in the 70th minute.

The defeat ended Algeria’s run of 35 international games without defeat. The Desert Foxes had opened their AFCON campaign with a 0-0 draw against Sierra Leone. Algeria are currently in last place in Group E with just one point, behind Sierra Leone (3rd, 2 points) and Equatorial Guinea (2nd, 3 points). Algeria will now close out the group stage against Ivory Coast (1st, 4 points) on Thursday, 20th January (17:00 CET). The top two sides in each group, as well as the four best-placed third-place sides will advance to the round of 16.