Algeria fight back from two goals down to draw with Burundi

Algeria recovered from a difficult first half to draw 2-2 with Burundi in the second round of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday.

Burundi stunned the hosts by taking a two-goal lead inside the opening 12 minutes. The first arrived in the fifth minute after a misunderstanding between Fares Chaibi and goalkeeper Melvin Mastil, who was outside his goal. Chaibi inadvertently sent the ball into his own net.

Burundi doubled their advantage seven minutes later through Jeromegisha. The forward capitalised on a poor clearance by Rami Bensebaini before dribbling into the penalty area and placing his shot to the right of Mastil for his second goal of the match.

Algeria reduced the deficit in the 30th minute when Mohamed Belloumi finished left-footed into the bottom-right corner after finding space inside the penalty area.

Burundi held on to their 2-1 lead until half-time despite Algeria’s efforts to level the match.

The home side began the second half with greater intensity and made several changes to strengthen their attack. Their pressure was rewarded in the 63rd minute when Adel Boubina curled a well-struck direct free-kick into the net to make it 2-2.

Algeria introduced Mohamed Amine Amoura and Moncef Bekrar before also sending on Adel Aouchiche and Ilan Kebbal as they continued to search for a winner.

They came close in the 87th minute when Saadi Redouani met a cross from Adam Zorgane with a difficult header, but Burundi goalkeeper Jonathan Nahimana made the save.

Joan Hadjam then missed another opportunity in added time, shooting left-footed from inside the box narrowly wide of the left post.

Burundi almost snatched victory in the final moment of the match, but Mastil denied Emmanuel Swedi’s header from the right side of the penalty area to ensure the points were shared.

The result takes Algeria to four points at the top of Group Nine. Burundi move on to one point and sit third, temporarily, while they await the result of Zambia’s match against Togo.