AFCON 2021: Algeria Bow out After 3-1 Hammering by Ivory Coast

• Algeria's hopes of successfully defending the AFCON title have been dashed following their 3-1 defeat to Ivory Coast
• Franck Kessie, Ibrahim Sangare, Sebastien Haller, and Nicolas Pepe were all on target for the Elephants, Riyad Mahrez missing a penalty
• The Desert Foxes were underwhelming through the campaign as they managed just a point in three of their Group E fixtures
• The 2021 edition of AFCON being staged in Cameroon will therefore see a new winner crowned as champions

Reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions Algeria have bowed out of the 2021 edition of the tournament following their 3-1 defeat to Ivory Coast in their final Group E fixture.

The Desert Foxes needed nothing short of victory during the Thursday evening, January 20, encounter for a chance to progress to the next round of the continental tournament.

This is after they kicked off the competition on a frustrating note, managing just a point in two of their opening fixtures.

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Djamel Belmadi's charges kicked off the tournament with a shock draw against lowly-ranked Sierra Leone before being stunned 1-0 by Equatorial Guinea.

However, they were unable to redeem themselves when they took on Ivory Coast at Douala Stadium as they suffered a 3-1 comprehensive defeat.

Franck Kessie scored the opener for Ivory Coast in the 22nd minute before Ibrahim Sangare doubled the advantage in the 39th minute.

Arsenal's Nicolas Pepe putting the game to bed in the 54th minute, with Sofiane Bendebka scoring Algeria's consolation.

Algeria ends their campaign bottom of the pool with just a point, with Ivory Coast progressing as group winners with seven points.

Black Stars sneak back to Ghana

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Ghana's senior football team, the Black Stars, have touched down in the capital, Accra, after a shambolic Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

The team sneaked into the country at dawn, taking a special COVID-19 test, and avoided the regular arrival hall.

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According to reports, the team was trying to avoid attention especially in the face of their failure in Cameroon.

The Black Stars bowed out of the tournament disgracefully after shockingly losing to debutants Comoros Island.