Mahrez, Bounedjah Strike In Algeria Stroll Over Harambee Stars

24th June 2019 - by AFP

Kenya's return to the AFCON finals in 15 years welcomed by 0-2 defeat at the June 15 Stadium in Cairo as Desert Foxes join Senegal at the top of Group C

Kenya's midfielder Victor Wanyama (L) fights for the ball with Algeria's forward Youcef Belaili during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) football match between Algeria and Kenya at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on June 23, 2019. PHOTO/AFP

SUMMARY

Regular underachievers Algeria have lifted the trophy just once, on home soil in 1990, but are among a group of potential contenders in Egypt and will look to former African footballer of the year Mahrez for inspiration
Youcef Belaili nearly rounded Kenya goalkeeper Patrick Matasi and then shot straight at him, while skipper Mahrez failed to make better use of two dangerous free-kicks, the second skipping wide after a deflection
Victor Wanyama's Stars succeeded in limiting the damage in an uneventful second half, in which the notable highlight was the late introduction of Andy Delort, the Montpellier forward who recently switched his allegiance from France

CAIRO, Egypt- Riyad Mahrez scored as an untroubled Algeria cruised to a 2-0 victory over CAF Africa Cup of Nations underdogs Kenya in their first game of the competition in Cairo on Sunday night.

Regular underachievers Algeria have lifted the trophy just once, on home soil in 1990, but are among a group of potential contenders in Egypt and will look to former African footballer of the year Mahrez for inspiration.

Prolific striker Baghdad Bounedjah fired Algeria ahead from the penalty spot on 34 minutes and Mahrez turned in a second before half-time in the second match of a Group C doubleheader at the 30 June Stadium. A highly-fancied Senegal beat Tanzania 2-0 in the earlier game.

It is almost a decade since Algeria last made an impact, reaching the 2010 semi-finals, and the north African conditions will suit a squad capable of going far.

Al Sadd's Bounedjah, who hit a staggering 39 goals in just 21 starts in Qatar this past season, smacked wide as Algeria promptly put a Harambee Stars team making its first tournament appearance in 15 years on the defensive.

Youcef Belaili nearly rounded Kenya goalkeeper Patrick Matasi and then shot straight at him, while skipper Mahrez failed to make better use of two dangerous free-kicks, the second skipping wide after a deflection.

Chopped down

A darting run from right-back Youcef Atal eventually opened the door for Algeria after half an hour, with the adventurous Nice defender chopped down in the box by Dennis Omino.

Algeria's forward Riyad Mahrez (2nd-L) celebrates after scoring a goal and receiving an assist by Algeria's midfielder Ismail Bennacer (3rd-R) during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) football match between Algeria and Kenya at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on June 23, 2019. PHOTO/AFP

Bounedjah calmly stepped up to roll beyond Matasi and score in his sixth game running with the Desert Foxes, triggering an outpouring of joy from a sizeable and boisterous section of Algerian supporters.

Algeria quickly bagged a second when Manchester City winger Mahrez swept in a cutback from the left by Ismael Bennacer two minutes before the break.

Victor Wanyama's Stars succeeded in limiting the damage in an uneventful second half, in which the notable highlight was the late introduction of Andy Delort, the Montpellier forward who recently switched his allegiance from France.

Delort was a late call-up after Haris Belkebla was dropped from the squad for baring his backside online.