Algeria set up an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Nigeria with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory over Ivory Coast following a 1-1 draw in Suez.
Sofiane Feghouli’s goal against the run of play opened the scoring in the 20th minute, Rais M’bolhi having made a superb early save to keep Ivory Coast at bay.
But Baghdad Bounedjah’s penalty miss handed Ivory Coast a lifeline early in the second half, with Jonathan Kodjia’s fine effort restoring parity.
And after extra-time failed to serve up a winner, it was Algeria who came out on top in the shoot-out – Wilfried Bony and Serey Die missing their spot-kicks as their side crashed out.
Wilfried Kanon sliced wide from three yards out for Ivory Coast and his early miss proved costly when Feghouli coolly clipped home at the other end.
Matters looked set to get worse for Ivory Coast a minute into the second half when Sylvain Gbohouo lunged in on Bounedjah.
But Ivory Coast’s luck was in and after Bounedjah’s overhit spot-kick hit the top of the bar and stayed out, Kodjia drilled a low strike across M’bolhi to haul the Elephants level.
A fantastic block from Mamadou Bagayoko denied Riyad Mahrez before Wilfried Zaha skewed a volley over at the other end as extra time beckoned.
Ivory Coast looked the more likely to get a winner, with Ismael Traore’s scuffed effort cleared off the line amid a goal-mouth scramble, but Algeria – who went close through substitute Andy Delort late on – held firm.
Bony’s tame penalty proved comfortable for M’bolhi to deal with, though it was Die who missed the crucial spot-kick, with his attempt hitting the left-hand post as Algeria booked their place in the last four.
in another match Tunisia booked their place in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals with a 3-0 win on Thursday, ending surprise package Madagascar’s outstanding run.
Alain Giresse’s side might have expected a serious test against tournament debutants Madagascar, who topped their group ahead of Nigeria and then upset Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in the last 16.
But Tunisia were dominant in Cairo, squandering chance after chance before Ferjani Sassi’s scruffy strike broke Madagascar’s resolve.
There was no sign of a response and instead captain Youssef Msakni soon added to Tunisia’s advantage, his goal setting up a comfortable conclusion in which Naim Sliti added a late third ahead of Sunday’s semi-final against Senegal.
In an open and entertaining start to the game, Sassi almost broke the deadlock in superb fashion, twisting into space on the edge of the area and firing just over the top.
But further chances did not follow for either side until Wahbi Khazri saw a curling 32nd-minute free-kick touched onto the crossbar by Melvin Adrien.
Tunisia thought they had their breakthrough in the opening minute of the second half, but Khazri strayed offside before controlling Yassine Meriah’s lofted pass and scuffing into the net.
They did not have to wait long, though, as Sassi again went for goal from 20 yards and this time benefited from a huge deflection off Thomas Fontaine to wrongfoot the goalkeeper.
Msakni then picked out the bottom-left corner to double Tunisia’s lead after Adrien denied Khazri once more, with the victors cruising long before substitute Sliti finished off a 93rd-minute counter to complete the scoring.
