Riyad Mahrez celebrates goal with Youcef Atal of Algeria during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals last 16 match between Algeria and Guinea at 30 June Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 07 July 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
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BackPageTXT
Sunday Jul 07, 2019. 22:57
Following the high profile exits of Morocco and Egypt over the last few days, pressure was on Algeria to fly the North African flag this weekend and they didn't disappoint with a 3-0 thumping of Guinea at 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Sunday evening.
The Desert Foxes will now be favourites to clinch the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title following four impressive wins in succession, with a clash against either Ivory Coast or Mali to follow in Suez on Thursday.
Youcef Belaili opened the scoring in the Egyptian capital with 24 minutes on the clock. The Esperance attacker played a neat one-two with Baghdad Bounedjah before curling the ball home from a tight angle to give Algeria the lead at the break.
Guinea improved following the interval, but were always going to find it increasingly difficult without the influential Naby Keita in midfield.
Riyad Mahrez duly doubled the Desert Foxes lead in the 57th minute. The Algeria captain utilised his superb first touch to shake off his marker before firing home a low finish to give his team some breathing space.
Adam Ounas put the icing on the cake, finishing off a swift counter-attack for his third goal of the tournament as Algeria advance into the quarterfinals in Egypt.
Algeria (1) 3 (Belaili 24' Mahrez 57' Ounas 82')
Guinea (0) 0
Algeria: Mbolhi; Mandi, Benlamri, Mahrez, Belaili (Ounas 76'), Bounedjah (Delort 84'), Feghouli, Guedioura (Boudaoui 82'), Atal, Bensebaini, Bennacer.
Guinea: Kone; M. Yattara (Kamano 79'), Issiaga Sylla, Diawara, Seka, Falette, M.Camara, Kante (Koita 56'), Cisse (Bangoura 68'), Traore, Dyrestam.
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