The Mauritanian national football team secured a narrow yet groundbreaking victory over their Algerian counterparts on Tuesday.
The match, part of the final round of Group Four in the Africa Cup of Nations held in Ivory Coast, saw Mauritania triumph with a lone goal scored by Mohamed Dellahi in the 37th minute.
The surprising defeat for Algeria, which only garnered two points in the group stage, results in an unexpected early exit from the tournament.
In contrast, Angola solidified its place in the Round of 16 by topping the group with 7 points.
Burkina Faso also officially advanced to the next stage by securing second place with 4 points.
Mauritania, with 3 points, clinched the third position in the group and officially qualified for the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.
In a parallel match within the same Group Four, Angola emerged victorious with a 2-0 scoreline against Burkina Faso.
Mabululu netted the opening goal in the 36th minute of the first half, followed by Antonio Kapaca sealing the win with the second goal in the 90+2 minute, ensuring Angola’s dominance in the group.
The unexpected outcome of Algeria’s early exit adds an element of unpredictability to the tournament, with Mauritania’s remarkable journey continuing into the knockout stages as they aim to make further strides in the Africa Cup of Nations.