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Fez – Cote d’Ivoire beat Algeria 3-1 win in a tense game that eventually saw Algeria’s football team exit this year’s AFCON in the group stage.
With a loss and a draw, Algeria had no other choice but to win its game against Cote d’Ivoire to move to the next round.
Yet, as the game kicked off, Cote d’Ivoire showed off its caliber and dominated the game in all phases.
Cote D’Ivoire’s Frank Kessie scored the game’s opening goal after 22 minutes of play in the first half.
Less than 20 minutes after, Ibrahim Sangare netted the second goal for Cote d’Ivoire in the 39 minute to end the first half with a comfortable margin for the “Elephants”.
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In the second half, Algeria’s hopes to level the score and achieve a remontada were dashed following Nicolas Pepe’s spectacular goal, which sealed the North African country’s fate in the competition.
Pepe scored a stunning third-goal for the Ivorians, cutting through Algeria’s defense and landing the ball in the far end of the net.
Algeria’s first and only goal in this competition was scored in the 73rd by Soufiane Bendebka.
With this victory, Cote d’Ivoire sent the defending champions out of the AFCON competition.
Previously viewed as the favorites of this year’s edition, Algeria’s poor performances in the group stage with two losses and a draw left the team in the last spot of Group E.
