Senegal’s haplessness against Algeria continues, as they fall to another defeat to their bogey team. They can point to bad luck – Mané should have been given a penalty, for one – and also to bad finishing – Diagne missed a sitter – but they must also acknowledge that they lacked ideas and were terribly sloppy at times.
Algeria, after looking at risk of being dominated early on, were a little more tidy and were managed the game better. They top the group and will mosey on in to the last 16. Senegal need a result against Kenya in their final group game.
Algeria striker Baghdad Bounedjah had the two best chances of the opening 45 minutes, initially lobbing goalkeeper Edouard Mendy with an effort that was comfortably cleared by Kalidou Koulibaly, before he saw an effort turned wide by the Senegal shot-stopper.
The action thankfully rose a level in the second half, Sofiane Feghouli fizzing a 48th-minute effort wide in a warning Senegal did not heed.
And the goal came in the very next minute, Feghouli running onto Mahrez’s pass and cutting back from the right-hand side.
Belaili did the rest, taking a touch at the top of the box before rifling a right-footed effort into the back of the net.
Senegal could have won a penalty when it appeared that Mane was fouled, before their first effort on target in the 79th minute nearly produced an equaliser.
Youssouf Sabaly’s long-range strike was parried into the path of Mbaye Diagne but the striker inexplicably nodded wide.
Senegal kept pushing for a leveller and nearly had one when Bounedjah went close to scoring an own goal and Mane then headed a corner over in the dying stages.
But one goal was enough for Algeria, who will now turn their attention to the knockout stages. Senegal’s next task comes against Kenya on Monday.
