Algeria crash out of Afcon 2023 after shock defeat to Mauritania

Algeria crashed out of the Africa Cup of Nations group stage for the second time in as many tournaments following Tuesday's shock defeat to Mauritania,

Algeria won their second Afcon title in Egypt in 2019 but were then failed to reach the knockout stages at the last edition in Cameroon two years ago with just one point and one goal scored.

This campaign has been equally miserable for Djamel Belmadi's team, who drew their first two matches in Group D against Angola and Burkina Faso but would have qualified for the knockout phase with a point against Mauritania in Bouake.

Yet Mauritania, who had lost their opening two matches in Ivory Coast and had never won in eight previous attempts at Afcon, claimed a 1-0 win thanks to a 37th-minute goal by captain Mohamed Dellah Yaly, who plays his club football in Iraq.

The result relegated Algeria, who started the game with off-form Riyad Mahrez on the bench, to bottom spot in their group and they head home having now gone six Afcon matches without winning since beating Senegal 1-0 in the 2019 final.

Mauritania, meanwhile, are now certain to advance to the knockout phase for the first time in their history as one of the four best third-placed teams.

"Nobody was thinking about Mauritania, but football is like that, full of surprises, and we have been rewarded for all the hard work we have put in," Mauritania coach Amir Abdou told Canal Plus Afrique.

Angola finish top of Group D ahead of Burkina Faso after beating the Stallions 2-0 in Yamoussoukro thanks to goals in each half from Egypt-based striker Mabululu and Zini of AEK Athens.

The Angolans are through to the knockouts for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010, and will now play a best third-placed team in Bouake in