2019 Africa Cup of Nations Final

The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Final was a football match which determined the winner of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. The match was held at the Cairo International Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, on 19 July 2019 and was contested by Senegal and Algeria.[2]

2019 Africa Cup of Nations Final
The Cairo International Stadium in Cairo hosted the final.
Event2019 Africa Cup of Nations
Senegal Algeria
0 1
Date19 July 2019 (2019-07-19)
VenueCairo International Stadium, Cairo
Man of the MatchRaïs M'Bolhi (Algeria)[1]
RefereeSidi Alioum (Cameroon)
Attendance75,000

Algeria won the final 1–0 for their second Africa Cup of Nations title, and their first since 1990.[3]

Background

This is the first time in the history both teams face each other in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, having previously faced each other in the group stage of the edition three times and in the semi-finals once. Overall record is favorable for Algeria, having won three, draw one and never lost to Senegal in the AFCON history.

Both Senegal and Algeria were grouped in Group C of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Senegal entered the group stage with an easy 2–0 win over Tanzania.[4] However, Senegal suffered a big setback after losing 0–1 defeat to the Algerians when Sadio Mané made his debut in the tournament.[5] Senegal soon bounced back by a 3–0 win over Kenya,[6] thus qualified to the round of sixteen with the Algerians. Senegal managed to beat both Uganda[7] and Benin[8] in the round of sixteen and quarter-finals with the same 1–0 results. Senegal, in the semi-finals against Tunisia, struggled harder due to Tunisia's defensive style of play and almost got led by the Tunisians until Ferjani Sassi missed the penalty; Henri Saivet also failed to convert from the spot after his side got the same opportunity, but the Senegalese got a lucky own goal by Dylan Bronn to finally obtain another 1–0 win after 120' to march to the final for the second time, having done it so in 2002.[9][10]

Algeria, also shared similar group with Senegal, began with a 2–0 easy win over Kenya,[11] before managed to defeat its largest opponent, Senegal, 1–0.[5] The Algerians easily ended the group stage with a 3–0 to Tanzania with three goals in the first 45 minutes.[12] Algeria continued its rampant performance with a 3–0 win over Guinea in the round of sixteen,[13] but struggled harder against Ivory Coast, being held 1–1 after 120' before overcame the Ivorians 4–3 in penalty shootout.[14] The Algerians then put up an outstanding performance, beating African powerhouse Nigeria 2–1, with a late minute goal by Riyad Mahrez in a free kick spot to reach their first ever final since winning at home at 1990.[15][16]

Route to the final
Further information: 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
Senegal Round Algeria
Opponents Result Group stage Opponents Result
 Tanzania 2–0 Match 1  Kenya 2–0
 Algeria 0–1 Match 2  Senegal 1–0
 Kenya 3–0 Match 3  Tanzania 3–0
Group C runners-up
Pos Team Pld Pts
1  Algeria 3 9
2  Senegal 3 6
3  Kenya 3 3
4  Tanzania 3 0
Source: CAF
 Final standings Group C winners
Pos Team Pld Pts
1  Algeria 3 9
2  Senegal 3 6
3  Kenya 3 3
4  Tanzania 3 0
Source: CAF
Opponents Result Knockout stage Opponents Result
 Uganda 1–0 Round of 16  Guinea 3–0
 Benin 1–0 Quarter-finals  Ivory Coast 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p)
 Tunisia 1–0 (a.e.t.) Semi-finals  Nigeria 2–1

Pre-match

Officials

Although Victor Gomes from South Africa was chosen at first to officiate the final, the CAF decided to change official referee and replaced Gomes by Sidi Alioum, who officiated the opening match between Egypt and Zimbabwe. CAF staff later admitted they had mistaken referee to officiate the final, as they planned to call Sidi Alioum but later turned into Victor Gomes.[17] Sidi Alioum himself had officiated in a number of matches, including 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups, as well as a number of CAF Champions League matches.

Match

Summary

The only goal of the game was scored in the 2nd minute when Baghdad Bounedjah cut in from the left and shot with his right foot from just outside the penalty area with the ball taking a huge deflection off defender Salif Sané and looping over the goalkeeper and down into the right corner of the net.[18][19]

Details
Senegal 0–1 Algeria
Report
Attendance: 75,000

Senegal
Algeria
GK23Alfred Gomis
RB21Lamine Gassama 80'
CB12Youssouf Sabaly
CB6Salif Sané
LB8Cheikhou Kouyaté (c)
CM5Idrissa Gueye 79'
CM17Badou Ndiaye 59'
RW14Henri Saivet 75'
AM18Ismaïla Sarr
LW10Sadio Mané
CF9M'Baye Niang 85'
Substitutions:
MF15Krépin Diatta 59'
FW19Mbaye Diagne 75'
FW11Keita Baldé 85'
Manager:
Aliou Cissé
GK23Raïs M'Bolhi
RB18Mehdi Zeffane
CB21Ramy Bensebaini 33'
CB4Djamel Benlamri
LB2Aïssa Mandi 90+2'
RM7Riyad Mahrez (c)
CM10Sofiane Feghouli 85'
CM22Ismaël Bennacer
LM17Adlène Guedioura 90+4'
CF8Youcef Belaïli 54' 84'
CF9Baghdad Bounedjah 89'
Substitutions:
MF11Yacine Brahimi 84'
DF3Mehdi Tahrat 85'
FW13Islam Slimani 89'
Manager:
Djamel Belmadi

Man of the Match:
Raïs M'Bolhi (Algeria)[1]

Assistant referees:
Evarist Menkouande (Cameroon)
Nguegoue Elvis Guy Noupue (Cameroon)
Fourth official:
Eric Otogo-Castane (Gabon)
Reserve assistant referee:
Waleed Ahmed Ali (Sudan)
Video assistant referee:
Benoit Millot (France)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Bakary Gassama (Gambia)
Zakhele Thusi Siwela (South Africa)

Match rules[20]

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Maximum of twelve named substitutes.
  • Maximum of three substitutions, with a fourth allowed in extra time.

See also

References
  1. CAF [@CAF_Online] (19 July 2019). "And the winner of the Total Man of the Match is R. M'bolhi!" (Tweet). Retrieved 19 July 2019 – via Twitter.
  2. https://images.cafonline.com/image/upload/caf-prd/a4dz6qrgz1hhmowskzfa.pdf
  3. "Algeria claim second Afcon title after Bounedjah's lucky strike sinks Senegal". theguardian.com. Guardian News & Media Limited. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  4. "Senegal make light of Mane's absence in win over Tanzania". Ahram Online.
  5. "Belaili fires physical Algeria to win over Senegal to reach Nations Cup last 16". Ahram Online.
  6. "Kenya 0-3 Senegal: Sadio Mane double punishes Harambee Stars at Afcon 2019". sports.yahoo.com.
  7. "Africa Cup of Nations: Uganda 0-1 Senegal". 5 July 2019 – via www.bbc.com.
  8. Doyle, Paul (10 July 2019). "Senegal 1-0 Benin: Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final – as it happened" – via www.theguardian.com.
  9. "Senegal beat Tunisia 1-0 in extra time to reach Africa Cup of Nations final". France 24. 14 July 2019.
  10. "Senegal 1 Tunisia 0". BBC Sport. 14 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  11. "Mahrez scores as Algeria enjoy a 2-0 victory over Kenya". 24 June 2019.
  12. "Ounas Shines As Group C Winners Algeria Stay Perfect With 3-0 Win Over Tanzania". beIN SPORTS USA.
  13. "Algeria Beat Guinea to Advance to Quarter-Finals". beIN SPORTS USA.
  14. "Algeria sink Ivory Coast on penalties to reach Afcon semis". Standard Digital News.
  15. "Late Mahrez free-kick sends Algeria into CAN 2019 final". AS.com. 14 July 2019.
  16. "Algeria 2 Nigeria 1". BBC Sport. 14 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  17. https://www.goal.com/en/news/south-african-referee-victor-gomes-dropped-from-afcon-2019-final-/1k50t4py276y11hgezfy58nh26
  18. "Senegal 0 Algeria 1: as it happened". Guardian. 27 July 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  19. "Senegal 0 Algeria 1:as it happened". BBC Sport. 27 July 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  20. "Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations" (PDF). Confederation of African Football.
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