Algeria have beaten Senegal 1-0 to win the 2019 African Cup of Nations trophy.
The Algerians took the lead early in the first half through a fortuitous goal by striker Baghdad Bounedjah.
They then had to withstand an onslaught from the Senegalese for the rest of the match with the Teranga Lions virtually camped in the North Africans’ half.
Senegal thought they had won a penalty when the ball struck an Algerian defender on the arm.
However, that call was overturned after the referee after he reviewed the footage via VAR
Algeria held on to claim the narrow win and, with it, their second African crown, 29 years after they won their first.
This will be seen as a deserved win for Algeria as they remained unbeaten throughout the competition beating Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Nigeria en route to the final.
The only failed to win a game in regulation time in the quarter-final against the Ivory Coast, eventually beating the Ivorians on penalties.
The Algerians also finished as the tournament’s top scorers with 13 goals and the joint-best defence, conceding only two goals along with Senegal.
Heading into the final, the spotlight was on Sadio Mane for Senegal and Riyad Mahrez for Algeria.
However, it was Al Sadd striker Bounedjah who struck first, turning Kouyaté before firing a shot which took a wicked deflection off Sane and crept under the bar and into the net.
Senegal took a while to respond but started offering some attacking threat with Saivet’s free-kick saved by the Algerian keeper.
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