2019 Africa Cup of Nations final

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2019 Africa Cup of Nations Final
Cairo International Stadium 2019.jpg
The Cairo International Stadium hosted the final
Event 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
Date19 July 2019 (2019-07-19)
Venue Cairo International Stadium, Cairo
Man of the Match Raïs M'Bolhi (Algeria) [1]
Referee Sidi Alioum (Cameroon)
Attendance75,000
2017
2021

The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Final was a football match that 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]

Contents

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

Background

The Africa Cup of Nations, organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), is the primary international association football competition for African national teams. [4] The 2019 tournament was the 32nd edition since its inaugural event. While Cameroon was initially slated to host the event, the CAF stripped the country of this privilege in November 2018 due to concerns surrounding the lack of preparation and event security. [5] There was speculation that Morocco would apply to host the event, but it ultimately declined to do so. [6] Egypt and South Africa applied to host the event; the former was chosen in early January 2019. [7]

This was 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. [8] However, Senegal suffered a big setback after losing 0–1 defeat to the Algerians when Sadio Mané made his debut in the tournament. [9] Senegal soon bounced back by a 3–0 win over Kenya, [10] thus qualified to the round of sixteen with the Algerians. Senegal managed to beat both Uganda [11] and Benin [12] 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. [13] [14]

Algeria, also shared a similar group with Senegal, began with a 2–0 easy win over Kenya, [15] before they managed to defeat its largest opponent, Senegal, 1–0. [9] The Algerians easily ended the group stage with a 3–0 to Tanzania with three goals in the first 45 minutes. [16] Algeria continued its rampant performance with a 3–0 win over Guinea in the round of sixteen, [17] but struggled harder against Ivory Coast, being held 1–1 after 120' before overcame the Ivorians 4–3 in penalty shootout. [18] 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. [19] [20]

Route to the final

SenegalRoundAlgeria
OpponentsResult Group stage OpponentsResult
Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 2–0 Match 1Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 2–0
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 0–1 Match 2Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 1–0
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 3–0 Match 3Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 3–0
Group C runners-up
PosTeamPldPts
1Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 39
2Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 36
3Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 33
4Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 30
Source: CAF
Final standings Group C winners
PosTeamPldPts
1Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 39
2Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 36
3Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 33
4Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 30
Source: CAF
OpponentsResult Knockout stage OpponentsResult
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 1–0 Round of 16Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 3–0
Flag of Benin.svg  Benin 1–0 Quarter-finalsFlag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 1–1 ( a.e.t. )(4–3 p)
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 1–0 ( a.e.t. )Semi-finalsFlag of Nigeria.svg  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 the official referee and replaced Gomes by Sidi Alioum, who officiated the opening match between Egypt and Zimbabwe. CAF staff later admitted they had mistaken the referee to officiate the final, as they planned to call Sidi Alioum but later turned into Victor Gomes. [21] Sidi Alioum himself had officiated in a number of matches, including 2014 FIFA World Cup, as well as a number of CAF Champions League matches.

Match

Summary

The only goal of the match 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, looping over the goalkeeper and down into the right corner of the net. [22] [23]


Details

Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg 0–1 Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria
Report
  • Bounedjah Soccerball shade.svg2'

Kit left arm sen18h.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body sen18H.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm sen18h.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts sen18H.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Senegal
Kit left arm algerie19h.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body algerie19h.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm algerie19h.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts algerie19h.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks algerie19h.png
Kit socks long.svg
Algeria
GK23 Alfred Gomis
RB21 Lamine Gassama Yellow card.svg 80'
CB6 Salif Sané
CB8 Cheikhou Kouyaté (c)
LB12 Youssouf Sabaly
CM5 Idrissa Gueye Yellow card.svg 79'
CM17 Badou Ndiaye Sub off.svg 59'
RW18 Ismaïla Sarr
AM14 Henri Saivet Sub off.svg 75'
LW10 Sadio Mané
CF9 M'Baye Niang Sub off.svg 85'
Substitutions:
FW15 Krépin Diatta Sub on.svg 59'
FW19 Mbaye Diagne Sub on.svg 75'
FW11 Keita Baldé Sub on.svg 85'
Manager:
Aliou Cissé
SEN-ALG 2019-07-19.svg
GK23 Raïs M'Bolhi
RB18 Mehdi Zeffane
CB2 Aïssa Mandi Yellow card.svg 90+2'
CB4 Djamel Benlamri
LB21 Ramy Bensebaini Yellow card.svg 33'
RM7 Riyad Mahrez (c)
CM17 Adlène Guedioura Yellow card.svg 90+4'
CM22 Ismaël Bennacer
LM8 Youcef Belaïli Yellow card.svg 54'Sub off.svg 84'
SS10 Sofiane Feghouli Sub off.svg 85'
CF9 Baghdad Bounedjah Sub off.svg 89'
Substitutions:
MF11 Yacine Brahimi Sub on.svg 84'
DF3 Mehdi Tahrat Sub on.svg 85'
FW13 Islam Slimani Sub on.svg 89'
Manager:
Djamel Belmadi

Man of the Match:
Rais 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:
Benoît Millot (France)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Bakary Gassama (Gambia)
Zakhele Thusi Siwela (South Africa)

Match rules [25]

  • 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. 1 2 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. "Official Match Schedule" (PDF). 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  3. "Algeria claim second Afcon title after Bounedjah's lucky strike sinks Senegal". theguardian.com. Guardian News & Media Limited. 19 July 2019. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  4. "2019 Africa Cup of Nations: Fixtures, results and coverage". ESPN.com . ESPN Internet Ventures. 18 July 2019. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  5. "Cameroon stripped of right to host 2019 Africa Cup of Nations". the Guardian. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  6. Bassam, Tom (13 December 2018). "Morocco: 'We don't want to host 2019 Afcon'". SportsPro. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  7. Etchells, Daniel (8 January 2019). "Egypt named as hosts of 2019 Africa Cup of Nations". www.insidethegames.biz. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  8. "Senegal make light of Mane's absence in win over Tanzania". Ahram Online. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  9. 1 2 "Belaili fires physical Algeria to win over Senegal to reach Nations Cup last 16". Ahram Online. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  10. "Kenya 0-3 Senegal: Sadio Mane double punishes Harambee Stars at Afcon 2019". sports.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  11. "Africa Cup of Nations: Uganda 0-1 Senegal". BBC Sport. 5 July 2019. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  12. Doyle, Paul (10 July 2019). "Senegal 1-0 Benin: Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final – as it happened". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019 via www.theguardian.com.
  13. "Senegal beat Tunisia 1-0 in extra time to reach Africa Cup of Nations final". France 24. 14 July 2019. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  14. "Senegal 1 Tunisia 0". BBC Sport. 14 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  15. "Mahrez scores as Algeria enjoy a 2-0 victory over Kenya". 24 June 2019. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  16. "Ounas Shines As Group C Winners Algeria Stay Perfect With 3-0 Win Over Tanzania". beIN SPORTS USA. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  17. "Algeria Beat Guinea to Advance to Quarter-Finals". beIN SPORTS USA. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  18. "Algeria sink Ivory Coast on penalties to reach Afcon semis". Standard Digital News. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  19. "Late Mahrez free-kick sends Algeria into CAN 2019 final". AS.com. 14 July 2019. Archived from the original on 14 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  20. "Algeria 2 Nigeria 1". BBC Sport. 14 July 2019. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  21. "Afcon 2019: South African referee Victor Gomes dropped from final duty | Goal.com". Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  22. "Senegal 0 Algeria 1: as it happened". Guardian. 27 July 2019. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  23. "Senegal 0 Algeria 1: as it happened". BBC Sport. 27 July 2019. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  24. "Senegal vs. Algeria". ESPN.com. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  25. "Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.