Match ends, Algeria 0, Equatorial Guinea 1.
AlgeriaAlgeria0Equatorial GuineaEquatorial Guinea1
Equatorial Guinea stunned Algeria to leave the defending champions on the brink of a group-stage exit from the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Esteban Obiang slid in at the far post to convert a flick-on and net the only goal with 20 minutes left in Douala.
Algeria have just one point from their opening two games and must beat Ivory Coast in their final Group E game to have a chance of reaching the last 16.
The north Africans had two goals ruled out in what was a scrappy encounter.
The result ended Algeria's unbeaten run at 35 matches, two short of Italy's world record set last year, as they suffered their first defeat since October 2018.
Equatorial Guinea reached the Nations Cup semi-finals as hosts in 2015 but, having qualified for the tournament by right for the first time, this will go down as one of their biggest results in their history.
Juan Micha's side move on to three points and are second in Group E, with Ivory Coast top on four points, Sierra Leone third on two and Algeria bottom on one.
The tight nature of the group will make Thursday's final round of games fascinating, with the Equatoguineans facing the Leone Stars in Limbe at the same time as Algeria take on Ivory Coast in Douala (16:00 GMT).
Frustration for Mahrez and company
Algeria were held to a goalless draw by Sierra Leone in their opening match and were once again frustrated in front of goal - this time by a side mostly comprised of players from clubs in the lower leagues in Spain.
Youcef Belaili had two attempts blocked by keeper Jesus Owono shortly before the Desert Foxes had the ball in the net for the first time midway through the first half.
Owono made a fine reaction save to keep out Riyad Mahrez's header but Baghdad Bounedjah tapped in the rebound - only for an offside flag against Mahrez to cut Algeria's celebrations short.
Equatorial Guinea then threatened, as Pablo Ganet had a low free-kick clawed away by Rais M'Bolhi and Iban Salvador sent a fierce strike flashing past Algeria's right-hand upright.
Belaili had a shot deflected wide midway through the second half before Josete Miranda helped on Salvador's corner for Obiang to convert for the shock winner.
Algeria had chances to equalise, with their record goalscorer Islam Slimani miskicking from close range before Belaili's rasping low strike from the edge of the area was then ruled out for offside.
Obiang made a crucial block to shut down an opening for Ramy Bensebaini and the Equatorial Guinea defender subsequently diverted Youcef Atal's cross behind.
The Equatoguineans managed five minutes of injury time well and defeat leaves Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi sweating on their final match against Ivory Coast, with the Elephants not yet assured of progress to the knockout stages themselves.
No country has successfully defended the Nations Cup since Egypt in 2010, and once again questions will be raised about Algeria's performance in sub-Saharan Africa, with two of their players citing the tropical climate as a factor in their opening stalemate.
Line-ups
Algeria
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 23M'Bolhi
- 20Atal
- 2MandiBooked at 45mins
- 4BenlamriSubstituted forTahratat 54'minutes
- 21BensebainiBooked at 8mins
- 22Bennacer
- 14BendebkaSubstituted forBrahimiat 73'minutes
- 7Mahrez
- 10FeghouliSubstituted forBoulayaat 64'minutes
- 8BelaïliBooked at 90mins
- 9BounedjahBooked at 4minsSubstituted forSlimaniat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Tahrat
- 5Tougai
- 11Brahimi
- 12Belkebla
- 13Slimani
- 15Boulaya
- 16Oukidja
- 19Zorgane
- 24Chétti
- 25Benayada
- 26Amoura
- 27Benrahma
Equatorial Guinea
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Owono Ngua Akeng
- 15Akapo Martínez
- 21Orozco Fernández Obiang ObonoBooked at 90mins
- 16Coco-Bassey Oubiña
- 11Owono NchamaBooked at 9mins
- 22Ganet
- 8Machín
- 6Salvador EdúSubstituted forEneme Bocariat 90+2'minutes
- 4Bikoro Akieme NchamaBooked at 43minsSubstituted forMiranda Boachoat 66'minutes
- 14Buyla SamSubstituted forHanza Mehaat 66'minutes
- 9Siafá EtohaBooked at 45minsSubstituted forNlavo Asuéat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Mayé
- 3Anieboh
- 5Anvene Ebang Elá
- 7Belima
- 12Magno Mba Bicoro
- 13Sapunga Mbara
- 17Miranda Boacho
- 18Hanza Meha
- 19Nlavo Asué
- 20Eneme Bocari
- 24Balboa Bandeira
- 26Akapo Martínez
- Referee:
- Mario Escobar
Match Stats
Home TeamAlgeriaAway TeamEquatorial Guinea
- Possession
- Home69%
- Away31%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away4
- Corners
- Home11
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away24
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Algeria 0, Equatorial Guinea 1.
Post update
Hand ball by José Machín (Equatorial Guinea).
Booking
Youcef Belaïli (Algeria) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Esteban Obiang (Equatorial Guinea) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Youcef Belaïli (Algeria) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Josete Miranda (Equatorial Guinea).
Post update
Attempt missed. Josete Miranda (Equatorial Guinea) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by José Machín.
Post update
Attempt saved. Pablo Ganet (Equatorial Guinea) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Luís Nlavo.
Substitution
Substitution, Equatorial Guinea. Santiago Eneme replaces Iban Salvador.
Post update
Mehdi Tahrat (Algeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Josete Miranda (Equatorial Guinea).
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Offside, Algeria. Yacine Brahimi tries a through ball, but Youcef Belaïli is caught offside.
Post update
Corner, Algeria. Conceded by Esteban Obiang.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ramy Bensebaini (Algeria) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Yacine Brahimi.
Post update
Corner, Algeria. Conceded by Pablo Ganet.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Youcef Atal (Algeria) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Farid Boulaya.
Post update
Yacine Brahimi (Algeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Pablo Ganet (Equatorial Guinea).
Post update
Offside, Algeria. Ismaël Bennacer tries a through ball, but Youcef Belaïli is caught offside.
