Here’s your report:
Algeria had 67% possession there, and 18 efforts on goal to Sierra Leone’s nine, but it’s hard to dispute that the West African side were worth a point. Algeria need to find another gear, particularly with Ivory Coast to come, and it looks like we have another tense, tight tournament on our hands.
And with that I’ll bid you farewell. Thanks for your company. Bye.
Sierra Leone’s players go into a defiant celebratory huddle in which Bangura addresses his men with pride and emotion. And though the second half was a more conventional Goliath v David siege, they created the better chances in the first period and showed enough in every area of the pitch to suggest they’ll ask questions of their other Group E opponents too. Ivory Coast are up next for them on Sunday, in the same stadium.
As for Algeria, they remain a fluent, talented passing side but they lacked composure in front of goal and were flat for considerable spells before their substitutions gave them some much-needed urgency. Slimani and Brahimi disappointed, leaving Mahrez and Belaili having to do too much of the creative work. They didn’t look like champions today.
Full-time: Algeria 0-0 Sierra Leone
And that is indeed it. The holders are held, the underdogs celebrate, as well they might. A well merited point.
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… Bounedjah meets it with a firm header but it’s straight at the keeper. That’s gonna be it.
90+2 mins: Algeria win a corner after a shot from the right loops behind …
90+1 mins: Bensebaini gets inside the area on the left again, cuts inside but his low shot at the near post is again smothered by the excellent keeper, Kamara.
90 mins: we’ll have only the three added minutes.
89 mins: Another long ball is poppe forward for Bounedjah but he can’t quite reach it and is offside anyway.
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87 mins: It’s a siege now and Bensebaini forages into the left but again Sierra Leone find a way to clear. Their defence has been excellent, Caulker prominent among them.
86 mins: Algeria press again, and Benrahma misses a golden opportunity; a fine slick move ends in a rightwing cross for the unmarked West Ham man, who doesn’t fully connect and his shot is wide. No excuse for not hitting the target there.
84 mins: Sierra Leone sub: Kaika for Turay.
83 mins: Sierra Leone’s Kevin Wright is being carried off for treatment, while West Ham’s Said Benrahma is coming on for Algeria, replacing Belkebia.
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81 mins: Chance for Mahrez! Bounedjah, who’s made a difference since coming on, gets clear down the left of the area and chips back a cross for the unmarked Mahrez whose low volley is turned behind by Kamara for a corner.
79 mins: There’s a creeping sense of panic about Algeria now, reflected in the manager Djanel Belmadi’s visible anguish on the bench. They’re dominating possession but it’s not quite a siege.
77 mins: Booking: Bangura goes into the book for flailing arms at Boulaya
76 mins: Sierra Leone sub: Alhaji Kamara hobbles off to be reeplaced by Fofanah.
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75 mins: … once again it’s worked swiftly from right to left by Mahrez for Belaili who darts into the area before a challenge that has him appealing for a penalty. But it’s a corner, which is worked out to Mahrez on the right, and his cross is headed over by Bounedjah.
73 mins: Sierra Leone win a free-kick in a good position on the left. Bundu whips it in and it has to be headed out for a corner, which is overhit and wasted and Algeria break …
72 mins: Sierra Leone do attack now and after an impressive run from right to left by Quee, Bundu hooks the ball back from the right but Algeria scramble clear.
68 mins The increasingly influential Belaili seizes on a poor ball out of defence to slip in Bounedjah just inside the area but again Sierra Leone scramble clear. Apart from the disallowed effort, it’s been pretty much one-way traffic this half.
67 mins: Bounedjah is in the thick of it early on with some trickery inside the box after a pass from Belaili. A minute later, Bendebka misses a gilt-edged chance when the ball is deflected out to him by the keeper but Caulker deflects the shot wide for a corner. Heroic defending.
64 mins: Algeria subs: all change up front with Feghouli, Brahimi and Slimani off for Boulaya, Bounedjah and Bendebka
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62 mins: Mahrez finds Belaili on the left, he slips in Brahimi but the cross, which shaves the top of the bar, is deemed to have drifted out of play. Goal kick.
62 mins: Interesting and absorbing though this game has often been, this tournament needs some goals.
60 mins: Algeria have an overlap on the left as the ball reaches Brahimi, but he can only cut inside and fire low at the keeper. Algeria’s decision-making and finishing hasn’t always been the best today.
58 mins: Belamri’s long ball forward has Kamara charging out of his area again to head clear from Slimani. Algeria come again though, pressing more aggressively than earlier, before a rash challenge from Brahimi concedes a foul and gives Sierra Leone a breather.
55 mins: This one eventually culminates in an overhit Mahrez cross that goes out for a goalkick. Algeria definitely stepping it up this half though.
54 mins: Mahrez is busy on the right now skipping to the byline on the right and forcing a corner, which is eventually worked back out right again to Feghouli who wins another corner...
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53 mins: Kei Kamara muscles through on the right of the are to meet a long ball but he can’t bring it fully under control and his “effort”, such as it is, drifts out for an Algeria goalkick.
51 mins: Brahimi misses Algeria’s best chance so far! Slick interplay results in a dinked ball forward from Mahrez finding Brahimi who chests it down but hits it at the keeper. Mahrez looks a lot busier now.
49 mins: Brahimi plays a nice one-two with Belaili down the left and gathers the ball again inside the area but though he wriggles and jinks, Sierra Leone won’t give him the space for an opening and the danger is averted.
Sierra Leone goal disallowed
48 mins: A ball from the left finds Kamara, comically unmarked, and he forces it home, but he was offside, as VAR confirms.
47 mins: Belaili has gone down after being caught by Bundu, who does the old “he dived ref” symbol, but it’s a free-kick to Algeria. It’s knocked long for Mahrez on the left and his cross is easy pickings for Kamara, who’s been commanding.
Peep! Off we go again.
The teams are back out. Algeria are making a sub. Benlamri coming on in defence for Bedrane, who was on a yellow card.
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If the score stays like this, Ivory Coast will perk up. The other heavyweights in Group E open their campaign against Equatorial Guinea tomorrow and will fancy their chances of winning the group.
Elsewhere, Group D’s opening fixtures take place later today with an intriguing looking encounter between Nigeria and Egypt, followed by Sudan v Guinea-Bissau. Talking of Egypt, here’s a Mo Salah Liverpool contract story: the Premier League soap opera is always with us:
Half-time: Algeria 0-0 Sierra Leone
A busy end to the half as Mahrez clips Slimani in and Kamara has to dash out and clear, and Sierra Leone swiftly break into Algeria’s own area before the cross is hit clear.
And that’s it for a decent half of football. Sierra Leone have been excellent, denying Algeria space and causing them some bother on the break, enough to have them thinking an upset is eminently possible here. Algeria’s celebrated midfield and attackers have shown glimpses of their obvious slickness and class but haven’t really clicked or consistently carved their opponents apart. All to play for in the second half.
45 mins: two minutes will be added, as Slimani scuffs a low ball in from the right aimed at Brahimi and the keeper gathers.
44 mins: The crowd may be rattling around a bit in a vast bowl like this but there’s a decent atmosphere. Out on the left Algeria win a corner when Brahimi skins Quee, who has the last touch before it goes out. But the Sierra Leone press pushes Algeria back again from it.
43 mins: And now the Sierra Leone keeper Kamara is down after a tussle for possession by the byline with Slimani. But he’s OK to continue.
42 mins: The London-born, Sweden-based Wright gets down the left this time, and his cross is met by two attackers colliding with each other and Algeria clear.
40 mins: Turay has another raid down the left, getting plenty of freedom to roam, and cuts inside before slicing his shot across goal. Sierra Leone have now had six efforts at goal to Algeria’s three. Not a bad return from 30% possession.
38 mins: Belaili beats Quee for pace on the left and wins a free-kick for Algeria in a dangerous position when he’s pulled back. He takes the free-kick too, whipped towards the near post but headed out.
36 mins: Another Sierra Leone attack. A ball from the right is headed across the area then out to John Kamara, who can’t keep his shot down. It sails over.
34 mins: Booking: Algeria’s Bedrane is booked for going in with his elbow on Bundu, who needs a bit of physio examination.
33 mins: Mahrez gets hold of a long probing ball down the right but Kevin Wright holds him off tenaciously by the byline and concedes no more than a corner. His corner is overhit, cleared and Algeria have to work it out from the back again.
31 mins: Another Sierra Leone break, again down the left, Turay goes it alone and has a firm shot saved by M’Bolhi to his right. They’ll be extremely pleased with this performance so far, the west Africans.
29 mins: Sierra Leone break again and swift interplay puts Bundy clear of Atal on the left, who cuts inside but blooters his subsequent shot miles over. He had options there too, and chose the wrong one.
28 mins: Bensebaini concedes a free-kick on the right after being beaten for pace. It’s headed clear and it looks as if Turay has blundered a promising position when the ball is knocked forward and though he looks offside no flag is up, and he miscontrols out.
26 mins: Mahrez almost plays in Slimani with a lovely curling ball from the right but the keeper gets there first. Just.
25 mins: Brahimi shows some midfield trickery but is well hustled and bustled by Caulker and his ball out left is headed out for a throw, which comes to nothing, which all rather illustrates Sierra Leone’s effectiveness so far. And Algeroa’s frustrations
24 mins: Slimani sets up Belaili for a shot from distance but it’s straight at Kamara. A bit of a waste.
22 mins: Sierra Leone win a free-kick on the left just outside the area. Bundu bends it in, it’s a good delivery to the far post and the header from Bangura is just wide. That’s twice they’ve threatened seriously from crosses.
21 mins: there’s either a helicopter or a storm or some other interference causing a bit of a racket.
20 mins: Feghouli wins a throw out on the right in a promising position. From it, the enterprising Atal manages to get to the byline and cross but the keeper Mohamed Kamara gathers
17 mins Brahimi skips clear down the left, cuts inside to find Brahimi but Sierra Leone’s press is solid and Algeria are pushed back. They’ve not yet had a really clear and obvious opening.
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15 mins: Sierra Leone are competing well in midfield, winning their tackles and not afraid to move the ball swiftly, but Algeria are enjoying the lion’s share of possession, as might be expected.
10 mins: … it’s a mere corner. Belhaili swings it in, it’s cleared and we have a break in play as Alhaji Kamara goes down after a clash of heads with Bensebaini. He’s OK to continue.
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9 mins: Algeria slow it down a bit and enjoy a spell of midfield possession but Sierra Leone keep their shape and deny them a way through. Algeria do eventually find a way through with Atal who marauds forward from right back and his cross is turned behind for a corner, from which another is won after a shot is deflected wide – by a hand, Algeria think, but no dice. We’re having a VAR check anyway …
6 mins: Another Algeria attack as Brahami plays in Mahrez down the right, he sprays it out left and the subsequent cross is too high for Brahimi. Sierra Leone respond and Bundu meets a decent low right wing cross with a firm shot that isn’t far wide of the near post. They’re not sitting back.
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3 mins: It’s a lively old start as Mahrez slips in Slimani with a beautifully judged pass on the inside right but after rounding the keeper, Slimani finds the angle too tight and fires into the side netting.
2 mins: Sierra Leone knock it long, and the flick-on causes a moment of alarm for Algeria and after a poor back pass concede an early corner, but the ball in is easily gathered by M’Bohli in the Algeria goal.
1 min: Algeria kick off and stroke it around for half a minute before a long ball forward is headed out for a throw by QPR’s Kakai. And the attack fizzles out with a foul on Sierra Leone’s Quee by the byline.
Peep! Algeria v Sierra Leone is go!
The teams are on their way out. There aren’t loads of people in the stadium. There looks to be a regimentally socially distanced Sierra Leone band over on the far side.
And it’s time for the anthems.
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Fancy a quick stadium tour? Who doesn’t.
📍 Ｊａｐｏｍａ Ｓｔａｄｉｕｍ 🏟️#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 | #ALGSLE pic.twitter.com/XANdnenceT
— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 11, 2022
Both teams appear to be setting themselves up in a 4-3-3, with an attacking looking Algerian lineup featuring Mahrez, Belkebia and Belaili in the midfield three behind Brahimi, Slimani and Feghouli further forward. There’s some serious experience in there. Sierra Leone have also gone with a front three, with two of their four Kamaras – Kei and Alhaji – alongside Mohamed Buya Turay. Steven Caulker is in at centre-back.
Teams
Algeria: M’Bolhi, Attal, Mandi, Bedrane, Bensebaini, Mahrez, Belkebla, Belaili, Brahimi, Slimani, Feghouli.
Subs: Benlamri, Tougai, Bounedjah, Bendebka, Boulaya, Oukidja, Zorgane, Chetti, Benayada, Amoura, Benrahma, Halaimia.
Sierra Leone: Mohamed Kamara, Kakay, Steven Caulker, Bangura, Wright, Quee, John Kamara, Bundu, Kei Kamara, Turay, Alhaji Kamara.
Subs: Medo Kamara, Fofanah, Williams, KaiKai, Dunia, Ibrahim Sesay, Mansaray, Idris Kanu, Kallon, Isaac Caulker, Abu Dumbuya, Musa Kamara.
Preamble
Afternoon everyone. Today’s first match has a definite magic-of-the-cup vibe, pitting as it does the defending champions and second-favourites Algeria against a Sierra Leone side who’ve not qualified for the finals of this tournament since 1996. To use western-centric metrics, 16 of Algeria’s squad play in Europe, including the likes of Ryad Mahrez, Ismaël Bennecer, Saïd Benrahama and Islam Slimani while Sierra Leone’s 10 Europe-based players include Wealdstone’s David Sesay, QPR’s Osman Kekay and Gaziantep’s Steven Caulker, formerly of QPR, Cardiff and Spurs. (Caulker is an interesting and admirable character, having battled addiction and mental health issues in the past and had some interesting things to say about playing in Turkey and dealing with the pandemic when we caught up with him in 2020.)
So everything points to Algeria this afternoon extending a remarkable unbeaten run that stretches back to 2018. They also come into the tournament freshly honed by their Arab Cup victory last month and a warm-up win over a strong Ghana side. As well as Mahrez, Bennaci and Youcef Belaïli can make things happen for them and they should have too much for Sierra Leone.
And yet this is often a tight tournament and, as we saw yesterday as Senegal laboured to a last-gasp victory over Zimbabwe, little can be taken for granted. Every game so far has had only one goal separating the sides and tournament football can be a great leveller. Even so, it’ll be tough for a Sierra Leone side who have played only two games in the past six months (a draw with Ethiopia and defeat by Comoros) due to Fifa sanctions relating to crowd trouble and government interference. Look out for Kei Kamara up front, who is a goal short of the country’s goalscoring record, currently held by Mohamed Kallon.
Today’s game takes place at the brand new 50,000-capacity, $232m Japoma Stadium in Douala, which opened only last month. Let’s hope it gets a reasonable filling today.
Kick-off 1pm GMT.
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