Olunga goals keep Kenya in hunt for last-16 place

Michael Olunga scored twice as Kenya edged neighbours Tanzania 3-2 in Cairo on Thursday to keep alive hopes of reaching the second round in the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Japan-based forward equalised in the first half and scored the 80th-minute winner in a lively east African derby.

Johanna Omolo was the other scorer for Kenya, who trailed 2-1 at halftime.

Saimon Msuva and Mbwana Samatta netted for Tanzania, who have never won a Cup of Nations match in two appearances spanning 39 years.

Earlier, Algeria defeated Senegal 1-0 in a foul-riddled first match of a Group C double-header at the 30 June Stadium and both countries are set to make the last 16.

Even if Kenya lose their final group match against Senegal, they will hope to squeeze into the knockout phase as one of the four best third-place teams.

After two rounds, former champions Algeria have six points, Senegal and Kenya three each and Tanzania are pointless.

Coaches Emmanuel Amunike of Tanzania and Sebastien Migne of Kenya reacted to two-goals losses in their opening group matches by making three changes each.

France-born Migne spoke before the match of the need “to start well” but Tanzania were the more committed side in the early exchanges and led after only six minutes.

Kenya goalkeeper Patrick Matasi could only parry a stinging shot from Taifa Stars captain Samatta and Msuva tapped in the rebound.

The Harambee Stars were unlucky not to score midway through the half when headers by Francis Kahata and Olunga struck the woodwork within seconds of each other.

Msuva nearly scored a second goal when his free-kick from well outside the box was heading for the corner of the net until Matasi tipped the ball over.

An intense match produced two more goals inside a minute close to halftime with Kenya levelling and then falling behind again.

When Tanzania goalkeeper Aishi Manula flapped at a free-kick, the ball struck teammate Erasto Nyoni and drifted toward Olunga, whose bicycle kick found the net.

The Kenyan joy was shortlived, however, as Samatta punished clumsy defending to fire the ball into the net and give Tanzania a 2-1 halftime advantage.

There was no let-up in the physicality from both teams as the second half progressed and Manula made a superb reflex save to parry a header from Kenya captain Victor Wanyama.

But Manula could not prevent Kenya equalising a second time on 62 minutes when a cross after a short corner was powerfully nodded into the net by Johanna Omolo.

It got worse for Tanzania 10 minutes from time when they fell behind for the first time as Olunga fired the ball into the net off a post from the edge of the box.

Belaili fires physical Algeria to win over Senegal

Riyad Mahrez and Algeria fired a warning to the rest of their Africa Cup of Nations title rivals with a deserved 1-0 win over Sadio Mane’s heavily-fancied Senegal in Cairo on Thursday.

Mane struggled to impress on his return from suspension as Youcef Belaili crashed home the winner on 49 minutes to guarantee Algeria a berth in the last 16.

It is almost a decade since Algeria last made an impact at the competition by reaching the 2010 semifinals, and this was a performance of great promise from the north African side in front of a large crowd at a blustery 30 June Stadium.

However Senegal, on the hunt for a first continental title, will still be expected to join Algeria in the knockout rounds as they wrap up the group phase against Kenya on July 1.

Mane was one of three changes to the Senegal team that brushed Tanzania aside 2-0 in their opening game, with Cheikhou Kouyate filling in for the injured Salif Sane in central defence. Algeria coach Djamel Belamdi stuck with the team that rolled Kenya over by the same scoreline.

Resuming a Premier League rivalry that saw City pip Liverpool in a thrilling title race last season, Mane’s Senegal controlled possession initially albeit without testing Algeria goalkeeper Rais M’Bohli. Mane ballooned one free-kick well over while Keita Balde completely miscued another.

Having absorbed Senegal’s advances with relative comfort, Algeria grew more assertive and Baghdad Bounedjah had Edouard Mendy scrambling across his goal when his a deflected effort that bounced narrowly wide.

Bounedjah, who hit 39 goals in just 21 starts for Qatar’s Al Sadd last season, looked odds on to score for the second game running in Egypt when he lifted the ball over Mendy only for a retreating Kalidou Koulibaly to clear.

The Algeria forward then nodded wide from a Mahrez free-kick and forced Mendy to force behind a scuffed attempt across goal.

The halftime interval failed to arrest Algeria’s momentum as a sweeping attack saw Bounedjah lay off for Sofiane Feghouli to curl wide, but the breakthrough soon came for the Desert Foxes.

After Senegal conceded possession Feghouli pulled back from the byline down the right for Belaili to take a touch and slam the ball beyond a motionless, unsighted Mendy.

Having created a raft of chances in a commanding win over Tanzania, Senegal’s attack found a compact Algeria far less forgiving and Mahrez went close to doubling the lead with a fizzing strike from distance.

Algeria survived a late scare when Bounedjah almost inadvertently poked a set-piece into his own net, but this was a display that should fuel belief for nation whose only title came in 1990 on home soil.

Madagascar on verge of last 16 after beating Burundi

Madagascar are on the verge of making the last 16 in their first Africa Cup of Nations after Marco Ilaimaharitra scored to earn a 1-0 win over Burundi in Alexandria on Thursday.

The Indian Ocean islanders, ranked 108 in the world, can finish first, second or third in Group B depending on how they fare against leaders Nigeria this Sunday.

But whatever place they occupy in the final standings will almost certainly take them through as group winners and runners-up and the best four of the six third-place teams progress.

Nigeria have six points, Madagascar four, Guinea one and Burundi none after two series of mini-league matches in the Mediterranean city.

Belgium-based Ilaimaharitra rifled a free-kick into the net on 76 minutes at a time when Burundi were looking likelier winners after Madagascar dominated the opening half.

Saudi Arabia-based attacker Charles Andriamahitsinoro, who stood out on the pitch because of his height and dyed blond hair, starred for Madagascar in the first half.

His early free-kick from the touchline dipped dangerously as it floated into the box and goalkeeper Jonathan Nahimana did well to push it away at the expense of a corner.

The Malagasy then produced a shot soon after that forced a fine save from the Burundi goalkeeper in 28 degrees Celsius heat at the Alexandria Stadium.

Midway through the opening half, Andriamahitsinoro burst down the middle between two defenders, but a poor first touch robbed him of a scoring chance.

Then, it was the turn of Burundi winger Cedric Amissi to threaten as he was pipped by goalkeeper Melvin Adrien in a race for possession.

A fluffed attempt to clear the ball by Romain Metanire offered Amissi another chance, but he did not react quickly enough and the ball was cleared.

Adrien foiled Sadio Berahino, who plays for English second tier club Stoke City, as Burundi continued to create chances.

Andriamahitsinoro was unlucky just before halftime when his goal-bound header off a cross was cleared off the line by Gaël Duhayindavyi.

Set pieces have often not been well executed at this Cup of Nations and a Gael Bigirimana attempt to score from a medium-range went embarrassingly high over the bar.

Bigirimana did much better midway through the second half, forcing a great save from Adrien off another free-kick.

It was from yet another set-piece that Ilaimaharitra gave Madagascar the lead, steering the ball into the net from the edge of the box.

Later on Thursday, Algeria face Senegal and Kenya meet Tanzania in a Group C double-header at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo.

Lineups: Tanzania vs Kenya

⚽ 🇰🇪KEN vs TAN🇹🇿

*KEN🇰🇪*
5 Musa Mohammed (Defender)
3 Aboud Omar (Defender)
13 Eric Ouma (Defender)
12 Victor Wanyama (Midfielder)
7 Ayub Timbe Masika (Midfielder)
8 Johanna Ochieng Omolo (Midfielder)
14 Michael Olunga (Forward)
11 Francis Kahata (-)
18 Patrick Matasi (-)
2 Joseph Okumu (-)
15 David Owino (-)

*TAN🇹🇿*
18 Aishi Manula (-)
22 Hassan Kessy (-)
5 Kelvin Yondani (-)
6 David Mwantika (-)
2 Gadiel Michael Kamagi (-)
4 Erasto Nyoni (-)
12 Simon Msuva (-)
23 Mudathir Yahya (-)
11 Thomas Ulimwengu (Forward)
10 Mbwana Samatta (Forward)
17 Farid Mussa (-)

⏰ Game begins in *24 mins*!

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Lineups: Senegal vs Algeria

⚽ 🇸🇳SEN vs ALG🇩🇿

SEN🇸🇳
16 Edouard Mendy (Goalkeeper)
22 Moussa Wagué (Defender)
8 Cheikhou Kouyaté (Defender)
3 Kalidou Koulibaly (Defender)
12 Youssouf Sabaly (Defender)
11 Keita Baldé (Midfielder)
15 Krépin Diatta (Midfielder)
13 Alfred N’Diaye (Midfielder)
17 Badou Ndiaye (Midfielder)
9 M’Baye Niang (Forward)
10 Sadio Mané (Forward)

ALG🇩🇿
23 Raïs M’Bolhi (Goalkeeper)
20 Youcef Atal (Defender)
4 Djamel Benlamri (Defender)
2 Aïssa Mandi (Defender)
21 Ramy Bensebaini (Defender)
17 Adlène Guédioura (Midfielder)
10 Sofiane Feghouli (Midfielder)
7 Riyad Mahrez (Midfielder)
22 Ismaël Bennacer (Midfielder)
9 Baghdad Bounedjah (Forward)
8 Youcef Belaïli (Forward)