Algeria ended Nigeria’s dream of a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title with a 2-1 victory thanks to Riyad Mahrez’s last minute stunner from a freekick in the second semi final at the Cairo International Stadium on Sunday night.
The Manchester City winger fired in a spectacular strike in what was virtually the last kick of the game.
The Algerians drew first blood in the first half with William Troost-Ekong putting the ball into the back of his own net after a fierce cross from Riyad Mahrez on the right five minutes before half-time.
A Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review however earned Nigeria a penalty after Aissa Mandi’s handled in the penalty area.
Odion Ighalo calmly send M’bolhi the wrong way to claim his fourth goal of the tournament.
Gambian referee Bakary Gassama initially di not spot Etebo’s effort strike Mandi but VAR intervened to award a penalty which Ighalo dispatched with consummate ease.
Sofiane Feghouli blazed over late on and extra time beckoned after Ismael Bennacer rattled the bar in stoppage time.
Algeria won a freekick on the edge of the D zone in stoppage time and there was Mahrez dispatching a thunderbolt curler into Akpeyi’s top corner to send the Desert Foxes into their first final since 1990 when they won it.
Nigeria will next play Tunisia who lost 1-0 to Senegal in the bronze match on Friday.
Meanwhile, an extra time own goal by defender Dylan Bronn handed Senegal a 1-0 victory over Tunisia in the first Semifinal of the 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations played at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Sunday evening.
Mouez Hassen the Tunisia keeper failed to punch a cross away from his penalty area, the ball deflecting off the body of Bronn and into the net deep into extra time.
The game which ended goalless after 90 minutes was however full of drama as both teams missed a penalty each in the last 15 minutes of regulation time.
Ferjani Sassi had his penalty saved in the 75th minute by Alfred Gomis after Kalidou Koulibaly was adjudged to have handled in the box.
5 minutes later Henri Saivet had his spot kick saved by Hassen when Ismaila Sarr was fouled in the box.
The match ended 0-0 in regulation time sending the match into extra time.
A freekick delivery on the right for Senegal was mishandled by Hassen who flapped it onto Bronn and to his agony saw the ball bounce into the net.
Tunisia thought they should have had a penalty but VAR ruled it out and Senegal saw out the game to qualify for their first Afcon final since 2002.
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