Agency :
Equatorial Guinea led a string of upsets at the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday when they beat holders Algeria, while Ivory Coast and Mali were both held by their opponents.
Equatorial Guinea pulled off one of the biggest shocks ever seen at the tournament when they outclassed Algeria 1-0, ending a run of 35 unbeaten internationals and relegating the defending champions to last place in Group E.
Their heroics in Douala have shaken up the tournament where many of the heavyweight contenders have been caught off guard.
But few would have expected Algeria, unbeaten since October 2018, to go down to a country with a population of just 1.4-million.
Defender Esteban Obiang scored from a corner in the 70th minute to keep up a day of upsets after debutants Gambia held Mali and Sierra Leone, competing at the finals for the first time since 1996, were gifted a last gasp equaliser to draw 2-2 with a powerful Ivory Coast team.
Only Tunisia ensured some normality as they beat Mauritania 4-0 in Limbe to revive their hopes in Group F.
Algeria’s defeat leaves them needing a win over Ivory Coast in their last group match on Thursday to stand any chance of advancing to the last 16.
The Ivorians were earlier held to a draw when their goalkeeper Badara Ali Sangare bizarrely lost control of the ball and let it slip under his body and back towards goal, allowing Sierra Leone’s Alhaji Kamara to gleefully snap up the chance to force a 2-2 draw.
