By Ollus Ndomu
Surprising all with a historic victory in the AFCON 2023, Mauritania dealt a blow to Algeria’s football legacy; a turn of events that marks a significant shift in fortunes for the former champions.
Since their triumphant moment as champions in 2019, Algeria has faced a series of setbacks. .
The disappointment started with a lackluster performance in AFCON 2021, where they managed only one point, placing them at the bottom of their group.
The woes continued into the World Cup 2022 campaign, where Algeria missed out on qualification after being eliminated in a controversial playoff. The latest blow came in AFCON 2023, with Algeria securing only two points and finding themselves once again at the bottom of their group.
Adding a remarkable twist to the narrative, Mauritania, a team that had never won a match in AFCON, broke the jinx by defeating Algeria.
The unexpected success of Mauritania highlights the challenges Algeria has faced on the international football stage since their previous championship glory in 2019.
