AFCON 2019 R16 Wrap: Algeria dispatch Guinea, Madagascar through

Madagascar continued their fairy tale story in their maiden AFCON appearance with a penalty shoot out victory over DR Congo after regulation time had ended 2-2 at the Alexandria Stadium in Cairo.

Amada shot the Islanders ahead in the 9th minute with a goal of the tournament contender as he fired in a shot from 30-yard to the right corner of the net. Cedric Bakambu equalised for the Leopards in the 21st minute before skipper Andriatsima restored his side’s lead with a diving header in the 76th minute.

With all going in favor of Madagascar, towering defender Chancel Mbemba who took the armband from Youssouf Mulumbu after his substitution soared high above his marker to head home a corner in the 90th minute to push the game to extra time.

DR Congo dominated the extra time and were just unlucky as Madagascar goal keeper Adrien pulled a point-blank save to deny Memba a brace.

In the penalty kicks, Amada, Metanire, Fontaine and Mombris all scored for Madagascar whilst DR Congo missed two through Tisserand and Yanick Bolasie.

In the other round of 16 game, the Desert Foxes of Algeria made mince meat of the Syli Nationale of Guinea by walloping them by three goals to nothing. Belaili shot the North Africans side in the 24th minute before Riyad Mahrez made it 2-0 in the 57th minute after which Ounas delivered the sucker punch with eight minutes to the end of the game.

The Elephants of La Cote D’Ivoire will battle the Eagles of Mali in an all-West African francophone affair whilst the Black Stars of Ghana entertain the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia later on in the game.