By Oni Ladonette Ondesa
Journalist kick442.com – Cameroon
Algeria completed their Group E campaign with maximum points, dispatching Equatorial Guinea 3-1 to finish top of the standings and book a round of 16 date with DR Congo on 6 January.
Les Fennecs needed just 19 minutes to open the scoring. Anis Hadj Moussa delivered a dangerous corner from the right, and Zinéddine Belaïd peeled off his marker to head home from close range. The towering centre-back met the cross unopposed, exposing woeful marking from Nzalang Nacional’s backline.
The visitors doubled their lead six minutes later through Farès Chaïbi. Ibrahim Maza picked up possession in the middle third, swiveled away from Omar Mascarell, and slipped a perfectly timed through ball between Equatorial Guinea’s centre-halves.
Chaïbi broke the offside trap, took one touch, and rifled his finish high past Jesús Owono, who got fingertips to the shot but couldn’t prevent it crossing the line.
Algeria had the match sewn up by the 32nd minute. Maza rose highest at the far post to power home another Hadj Moussa cross, again left completely unmarked as Equatorial Guinea’s defensive organization collapsed.
Emilio Nsue pulled one back five minutes after the restart with a genuine moment of quality. The 35-year-old collected Álex Balboa’s lay-off, shifted the ball onto his right foot, and unleashed an absolute rocket from 25 yards that flew into the top corner. Anthony Mandréa had no chance. Pure technique from the veteran striker, but it was merely a consolation.
Equatorial Guinea, already eliminated before kick-off, pushed bodies forward in search of a second goal that might have salvaged some pride. Balboa forced Mandréa into a decent save with a long-range drive in the 57th minute, while Nsue should have scored late on, heading wide from inside the six-yard box when it seemed easier to find the net.
Algeria remained comfortable throughout, controlling possession through Ramiz Zerrouki and Himad Abdelli in the engine room. The midfield pair dictated tempo, recycled possession intelligently, and protected the back four with minimal fuss. Zerrouki picked up a couple of knocks but played through them, showing his importance to Vladimir Petković’s setup.
The match grew increasingly scrappy in the closing stages. Pablo Ganet and Gael Akogo Esono both saw yellow within seconds of each other in the 83rd minute for crude tackles as frustration boiled over. Marvin Anieboh joined them in the book late on for chopping down Ilan Kebbal. Four bookings in the final 15 minutes told the story of a side chasing shadows.
Chaïbi nearly added gloss to the scoreline when his rasping effort from the left channel cannoned off the crossbar after being played through by substitute Mehdi Dorval.
Petković made wholesale changes at the interval, introducing five fresh legs including Youcef Atal and Dorval. The alterations barely affected Algeria’s rhythm.
Equatorial Guinea also rang the changes, bringing on José Machín and Iban Salvador at half-time, but lacked the quality to trouble a side operating several gears above them.
Algeria now march into the knockout phase with nine points from nine, one of the two teams to have won all three group games .
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