Algeria confirmed their early exit from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations when they went down 2-0 against Togo at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturday night.
A first half goal from Emmanuel Adebayor and a late second half strike from substitute Dove Wome was enough to secure maximum points for the Sparrow Hawks in a match where they had to absorb a lot of pressure.
The Fennec foxes took the initiative in the early stages of the match and should have taken the lead in the 14th minute when Sofiane Feghouli released Islam Slimani on the right side of the box, but he flashed his shot wide.
Two minutes later Moustapha Salifou picked out Adebayor at the far post and the lanky striker was able to outjump Essaid Belkalem, only to send his header wide of the post.
Then in the 22nd minute Tunisia had their first effort on target as Adlene Guedioura connected with a corner from Feghouli, but his header was plucked out of the air by Kossi Agassa.
The Togolese goalkeeper was called into action just a minute later, this time diving to his left to stop a deflected strike from Algeria captain Medhi Lacen.
However, it was the Sparrow Hawks who took the lead somewhat against the run of play in the 31st minute when header from Moustapha Salifou put Adebayor through on goal to slide the ball past Rais M’Bolhi.
Vahid Halilhodzic’s side came close to leveling matters five minutes later when Slimani collected a long pass on the right before firing towards goal, but Agassa came out of his line to block his shot.
Algeria continued to throw everything at Tunisia in the second half and in the 52nd minute Hilel Soudani headed wide at the near post after meeting a cross from Foued Kadir.
Then in the 70th minute Slimani had another chance to find the back of the net as he ran ahead of his marker to connect with a cross from Djamel Mesbah, but he failed to keep his header down.
Algeria came close to finding the equaliser again in the 84th minute but Hilel Soudani saw his shot blocked by his own teammate Rafik Halliche before Yassine Bezzaz fired over the crossbar from the rebound.
The match was interrupted when one of the goalposts had to be replaced, but it was Togo who looked sharp when play resumed as Wome ran onto a through-pass before placing his low shot past the goalkeeper.
Algeria 0
Togo (1) 2 (Adebayor 31’, Wome 90 + 1’)
Algeria: M’Bolhi; Mesbah, Belkalem, Halliche, Mostefa; Lacen (Bouazza 83’), Guedioura; Soudani, Kadir (Bezzaz 66’), Feghouli; Slimani (Aoudia 75’)
Togo: Agassa; Djene, Nibombe, Akakpo, Mamah Abdoul-Gafar; Amewou, Romao; Gakpe (Mani 74’), Salifou (Wome 57’), J. Ayite (Bossou 90+1’); Adebayor
Read article AFCON 2013: Adebayor’s Togo win first game, send Algeria packing!»
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