It was a day filled with goals at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire in games played across Group D and Group E on Saturday, www.aclsports.com reports.
Action resumed in the groups mentioned above and the entertainment was not limited, as all the games produced stunning goals and high-octane football, incredible officiating, and positive comments from fans alike.
Algeria and Burkina Faso kicked things off in the day as a late goal from the 2019 champions denied the 2013 runner-ups a place in the second round. Before the break, the Stallions went in front through Mohamed Konate’s stunning header – which extended Burkina Faso’s AFCON scoring streak to 16 matches. However, the Algerians responded almost immediately after the break when 2019 winner Baghdad Bounedjah pounced on a defensive mix-up with the equalizer.
Algeria, having drawn their opening game with Angola, seized possession from that moment on but it was the Stallions who went in front once again when they were severely punished after Bertrand Traore levelled matters with a penalty in the 71st minute. The match continued with Algeria pressing for the equalizer while the Stallions waited patiently to catch them on the counter.
The elusive goal came with seconds left to play when Bounedjah rose highest to head a corner delivery from Ounas Adam into the back of the net. That late goal kept Les Fennecs in the competition ahead of their final group game against already-ousted Mauritania, while Burkina Faso, with four points already, stand a good chance of reaching the next round when they face Angola in Yamassoukro.
In the other game between Mauritania and Angola, a mini goal-of-the-day competition was held as the encounter produced incredible five goals in 90 minutes. The game burst back into life around the half-hour mark, as less than 60 seconds after Ba’s one-on-one effort had been denied by Mauritania goalkeeper Neblú, Angola immediately broke the deadlock via Gelson Dala’s stunning scissor-kick finish. However, Sidi Bouna Amar channelled his inner Lionel Messi by running exquisitely with the ball through a crowd of Angolan defenders, before planting the ball into the corner of the net to draw his side level.
After the break, Angola continued from where they left off in the second half with Dala completing his brace with a deft finish in the 50th minute before Gilberto stretched the lead further in the 53rd minute to put Angola firmly in control. However, a relentless Mauritania clawed one back in the 58th minute with a well-struck goal by Aboubakary Koita to set up a grandstand finish to the clash that eventually finished 3-2 in Angola’s favour.
Mali and Tunisia shared the spoils in the final game of the day to round up a great day of goals at the AFCON. Lassine Sinayoko’s opener was cancelled out by Hamza Rafia’s smart finish just moments later. Both sides remain with a chance to reach the next round.
