Defending champions Algeria is on the brink of a group-stage exit from the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations after being stunned by Equatorial Guinea on Sunday night.
The game produced one of the biggest-ever upsets at the Africa Cup of Nations when Algeria lost 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea courtesy of a second-half strike by Esteban Obiang who slid in at the far post to convert a flick-on and net the only goal with 20 minutes left in the game.
The Spain based defender not only handed Equatorial Guinea an opportunity to qualify for the next stage of the competition but also ended Algeria’s unbeaten run at 35 matches, two short of Italy’s world record set last year.
The match also saw Algeria’s two goals correctly disallowed for offside, one in the first half and one in that frantic search for an equalizer.
The result means Equatorial Guinea is second in Group E with three points, with Ivory Coast top on four points, Sierra Leone third on two and Algeria bottom on one.
Manchester city’s Riyad Mahrez and his superstar teammates must now win their final group game which is against former champions Ivory Coast to avoid an earlier exit from the tournament.
The final round of group matches are slated for Thursday at 16:00 GMT when Equatorial Guinea faces Sierra Leone in Limbe while Algeria takes on Ivory Coast in Douala, Both matches will be played simultaneously.