Disappointment for Mahrez as Algeria bow out of AFCON | OneFootball

Riyad Mahrez missed a penalty as defending champions Algeria crashed out of the African Cup of Nations in the group stage with a 3-1 defeat to Ivory Coast.

The Desert Foxes needed a victory to give themselves any chance of reaching the last 16, but were outclassed by the Elephants, who progress as Group E winners thanks to goals from Franck Kessie, Ibrahim Sangare and Nicolas Pepe.

DOWNLOAD THE MAN CITY APP

It has been a frustrating tournament for Algeria, who exit without a win to their name and their misery was compounded on the hour mark when Mahrez’s spot kick hit the base of the post after Simon Deli tripped Youcef Belaïli.

That effectively ended any hopes of the Desert Foxes mounting an unlikely comeback, though Sofiane Bendebka headed home a 73rd minute consolation to ensure Djamel Belmadi’s side did not depart without scoring a goal.

Qualifying for the knockout stage was always going to be a tough task for Algeria after taking only a point from their opening two games against Sierra Leonne and Equatorial Guinea and it was made harder as Ivory Coast dominated the first half.

WATCH: Riyad Mahrez: Unfiltered

Ismaël Bennacer had rasped an early effort against the post for Mahrez’s men before their opponents took the lead in fine fashion.

A slick passing move involving Serge Aurier, Max Gradel and Nicolas Pepe resulted in the latter cutting the ball back for Kessie, who didn’t need to break stride as he sent a first-time volley into the bottom corner in the 22nd minute.

Sangare extended their lead before the break, arriving unmarked at the far post to power a header past Moustapha Zeghba from Aurier’s free-kick and Pepe put the result beyond doubt six minutes into the second period when he curled a composed finish into the far corner from 14-yards.

After Mahrez’s penalty miss, it should have been plain sailing for the Ivorians, but Algeria refused to go down without a fight.

Bendebka gave them a glimmer of hope when he finished off a well-worked corner routine from six-yards and Islam Slimani was denied by a brillaint reflex save from Badra Ali Sangaré after being picked out by a pinpoint Mahrez delivery.

Sebsatien Haller thought he’d added a fourth for Ivory Coast in stoppage time, only for it to be ruled out after the final whistle once VAR had shown the striker to be offside when he headed home from close range.

The Elephants will be joined in the last 16 by Equatorial Guinea, who beat Sierra Leonne 1-0 to claim second place in Group E.