If football were played on paper, star-studded Desert Warriors of Algeria would easily be winners of AFCON 2017. But it is not.
Which is why Algeria’s seventeenth Nations cup appearance has ended in a disaster as they failed to qualify from Group B after a 2-2 draw against leaders, Senegal who have already qualified for the quarter finals even before the last group match.
Even if Algeria had beaten the Lions of Terenga, Tunisia made sure it would not count by demolishing Zimbabwe 4-2 to hand the Desert Warriors an early exit. Recall that it was Tunisia that compounded the woes of Algerian 2-1 in their second game after they made their campaign difficult with a shock 2-2 draw against Zimbabwe in the opener (Algeria were lucky to have grabbed a last-gasp equalizer, thanks to Riyad Mahrez who got a brace).
It therefore means that African Footballer of the Year, Mahrez and fellow stars, Yacine Brahimi, Islam Slimani would not be the players who will end the North African country’s three decades wait for another Nations Cup glory after the solitary triumph on home soil in 1990.
Senegal impressively topped the group with seven points, while Tunisia posted two needed victories against Algeria and Zimbabwe to finish second with six points after losing their opening game to Senegal.
Zimbabwe joins Algeria in an early exit, finishing last with only a point they got against the Desert Warriors in their first match they could have won if they had been cool-headed.
By Charles Ofoji
cpcnews.org 