Guinea draw with Algeria to exit from CAF African Nations Championship

KAMPALA, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Guinea have been eliminated from the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) after a 1-1 draw with Algeria in their Group C clash on Friday at Mandela National Stadium in Kampala.

The West Africans held firm under sustained Algerian pressure in the first half, managing to keep the score goalless.

After the break, Guinea stepped up their game and broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute through Ismael Camara.

The Desert Fennecs of Algeria responded with relentless attacks from Messala Merbah, Abdennour Iheb Belhocini, and Bilel Boukerchaoui. With time running out, substitute Sofiane Bayazid struck in the 88th minute to level the score.

Guinea's Alsassane Bangoura, named Man of the Match, expressed his disappointment with the result.

"We failed to defend properly and conceded a late goal that cost us the game," Bangoura told Xinhua.

Guinea exited the tournament after four matches, collecting just four points. Algeria remain second in Group C with five points, one behind co-hosts Uganda. Algeria will conclude their group campaign against Niger on Monday, while Uganda face South Africa the same day.

The CHAN tournament, featuring players who compete in domestic leagues, is being co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. ■