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The Ivory Coast squashed a servile Algeria 4-1 on Thursday with Nicolas Pepe among the scorers as the defending champs crashed out of the Africa Cup of Nations in the gathering stage. Franck Kessie and Ibrahim Sangare scored in the main half for the Elephants in Douala, while Pepe and Sebastien Haller added further objectives after the break as the Ivory Coast got best position in Group E. Riyad Mahrez hit the post with a final part punishment before Sofiane Bendebka pulled one back for Algeria with their first objective since showing up in Cameroon, yet by then it was past the point of no return.
It is the fifth time in the last six Cups of Nations that the defending champs have neglected to make the AFCON knockout stage, however there has seemingly never been a more regrettable title safeguard.
Djamel Belmadi's side came to Cameroon on an unbeaten run extending back more than three years yet they were held by Sierra Leone in their initial match and afterward lost to Equatorial Guinea to experience a first loss in 36 matches.
Algeria would have equipped for the last 16 with a success against an Ivory Coast side previously ensured their position in the knockout rounds, however that never resembled a chance.
Their destruction was lapped up by the fans at the Japoma Stadium in Cameroon's monetary capital, with the 50,000-limit ground topping off as the game continued.
When the match was over it seemed as though fans had taken up a larger number of seats than the 60% limit forced as a component of Covid limitations,
The Ivory Coast plainly had the sponsorship of the group and they will remain in Douala for a heavyweight last-16 tie one week from now against Mohamed Salah's Egypt in a rehash of the 2006 last won by the Pharaohs.
- Tropical Guinea through -
Tropical Guinea go through in runner up in Group E subsequent to overcoming Sierra Leone 1-0 in Limbe on account of a great first-half strike from Pablo Ganet.
The Ivorians had surrendered a stoppage-time adjuster in their last game to draw 2-2 with Sierra Leone following a silly slip-up by goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare.
He then, at that point, learned of the demise of his dad soon thereafter, however he kept his place in an Elephants group missing Premier League pair Eric Bailly and Wilfried Zaha because of wellness issues.
They went on halfway through the principal half toward the finish of an extraordinary move as Pepe cut the ball back for Kessie to complete low into the corner.
It was 2-0 six minutes before the stretch as the plain Sangare headed in a Serge Aurier free-kick.
Algeria didn't show up cocked and locked after the restart and they may have fallen further behind before Pepe completed eminently in the 54th moment to make it 3-0.
