Bounedjah avoids defeat in Algeria

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By: Manu Tournoux

Bounedjah avoids defeat in Algeria

Trailing twice by Burkina Faso, Algeria relied on Baghdad Bounedjah to snatch a draw.

Algeria did not go far from the correctional this Saturday on the occasion of its second outing at the CAN. The Fennecs were led twice by Burkina Faso. Finally, they managed to snatch a point from the draw. Baghdad Bounedjah saved their day.

Bounedjah sees double

Already a scorer in the first match against Angola (1-1), the Algerian center forward struck twice in this game. Just after the restart, and while his selection was trapped at the end of the first period on a header from Mohamed Konaté (45e), he equalized with a close recovery (51e). Then, at the very end of the match (95e), on an infuriating header following a corner, he snatched the equalizer at the last minute.

Algeria is doing well with this unexpected outcome. A defeat would have been almost fatal to the Greens. Coach Djamel Belmadi would then have been under the spotlight of criticism, as would Riyad Mahrez. While he is the captain of this selection, the former Manchester City player has once again been extremely disappointing. His replacement by Adam Ounas 25 minutes from time was implacably logical and brought the double African champions back to life.

The Fennecs are therefore relieved, while the Burkinabés may harbor regrets. Even if they remain comfortably installed at the head of their group, Hubert Velud’s men have reason to deplore their loss of concentration at the end. The penalty transformed by Bertrand Traoré (71e) should have assured them a second success in two matches.

Algeria must win the last match

Barring disaster, Burkina Faso will be present in the 8th round. For Algeria, a victory against Mauritania will also be synonymous with qualification. In the event of a draw, however, we will have to take out the calculators to find out if Islam Slimani and his gang can continue their journey in this CAN.

Manu Tournoux

Written by:

Manu Tournoux

Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, his expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans.