Algeria managed to salvage a second point at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after a draw against Burkina Faso thanks to an equalizer from Baghdad Bounedjah in the 95th minute.
The Stallions took the lead just before halftime thanks to a header from Mohamed Konate. Bounedjah pulled even six minutes after the half from close range, but 20 minutes later, Burkina Faso took the lead once more thanks to a penalty kick by Bertrand Traore. In extra time, striker Bounedjah came up with a huge save to keep the two-time champions alive.
Due to Traore’s penalty kick in the 96th minute of Tuesday’s match, Burkina Faso defeated Mauritania and now leads Group D with four points. Burkina Faso is in danger of making it to the tournament’s knockout stage twice in a row.
The 2019 champions, Algeria, face elimination or a spot among the top four third-place teams in Ivory Coast if they lose their third group stage match against Mauritania in four days at 20:00 GMT.
The Stallions had the better opportunity when Steeve Yago backheeled into Blati Toure’s path, but Toure’s shot narrowly missed the bar. Traore scored his second goal in as many games after Rayan Ait-Nouri gave a penalty kick for fouling Issa Kabore in the box.
Following Nabil Bentaleb’s first-half effort being saved, Bounedjah was the first to react in the box and scored twice in the second half, making up for the first-half’s goal deficit. Burkina Faso and Angola will play concurrently in the last group games on Tuesday.
