By: Nana Kwame Bediako
African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019 Champions Algeria took on the Stallions of Burkina Faso in their second group game at Stade Bouaké Stadium in what was a mouth-watering encounter between the two countries as both sides played out a 2-2 draw.
The Desert Foxes of Algeria started well as they played some good football, but Burkina Faso also gave their best to stop any cutting-edge play from the Algerians. The deadlock was finally broken at the dying embers of the first half when Konate got his head on a cross from Tapsoba into the net to make it 1-0 in favour of Burkina Faso.
After going down in the first half, Algeria picked up in the first half with the majority of the play as they possessed more of the ball, forcing Burkina Faso to work for the ball. The Dessert Foxes, with their determination to get back into the game, eventually equalised when Bounedjah found the back of the net in the 51st minute to make it 1-1.
Algeria, after the equaliser, still took charge of the game but were unable to stand the press of the Stallions of Burkina Faso as they forced out a penalty on the side of the Desert Foxes in the 70th minute. The captain of Burkina Faso, Bertrand Traore, took up the responsibility from the spot and slotted the ball into the net to make it 2-1 for his side.
The Stallions pushed to cement their lead, but unfortunately they weren’t able to achieve that as the Dessert Foxes defended their lines very well with the purpose of getting an equaliser.
The Dessert Foxes in the dying minutes mounted the pressure on the Stallions as they got the equaliser to break the hearts of the Stallions, who had their hands set on grabbing all three points.
