Burkina Faso rues Bounedjah's late goal as Algeria draws 2-2 in Africa Cup. Angola beats Mauritania

Burkina Faso rues Bounedjah’s late goal as Algeria draws 2-2 in Africa Cup. Angola beats Mauritania

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Algeria’s Baghdad Bounedjah celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the African Cup of Nations Group D soccer match between Algeria and Burkina Faso at the Peace of Bouake stadium in Bouake, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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Algeria’s Baghdad Bounedjah, right, celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the African Cup of Nations Group D soccer match between Algeria and Burkina Faso at the Peace of Bouake stadium in Bouake, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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Algeria’s Baghdad Bounedjah is in action during the African Cup of Nations Group D soccer match between Algeria and Burkina Faso at the Peace of Bouake stadium in Bouake, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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Algeria’s Ramy Bensebaini, left, jumps for a header with Burkina Faso’s Bertrand Traore during the African Cup of Nations Group D soccer match between Algeria and Burkina Faso at the Peace of Bouake stadium in Bouake, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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Algeria’s Baghdad Bounedjah, right, is challenged by Burkina Faso’s Gustavo Sangare during the African Cup of Nations Group D soccer match between Algeria and Burkina Faso at the Peace of Bouake stadium in Bouake, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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A Burkina Faso supporter waits for the second half during the African Cup of Nations Group D soccer match between Algeria and Burkina Faso at the Peace of Bouake stadium in Bouake, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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Angola’s Gilberto, right, scores his side’s third goal during the African Cup of Nations Group D soccer match between Mauritania and Angola at the Bouake stadium in Bouake, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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Mauritania’s Omare Gassama, right, is challenged by Angola’s Keliano Manuel during the African Cup of Nations Group D soccer match between Mauritania and Angola at the Bouake stadium in Bouake, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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Angola’s Gelson Dala celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the African Cup of Nations Group D soccer match between Mauritania and Angola at the Bouake stadium in Bouake, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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Mali’s Falaye Sacko reacts during the African Cup of Nations Group E soccer match between Tunisia and Mali at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Tunisia’s Sayfallah Ltaief, right, kicks the ball during the African Cup of Nations Group E soccer match between Tunisia and Mali at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Tunisia’s Hamza Rafia, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the African Cup of Nations Group E soccer match between Tunisia and Mali at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Mali fans wait for the start of the African Cup of Nations Group E soccer match between Tunisia and Mali at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Soccer fans with flares during the African Cup of Nations Group E soccer match between Tunisia and Mali at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Mali fan waits for the start of the African Cup of Nations Group E soccer match between Tunisia and Mali at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Mali starting players pose for a team photo at the beginning of the African Cup of Nations Group E soccer match between Tunisia and Mali at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

By CIARÁN FAHEY

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Baghdad Bounedjah scored very late to lessen the danger of Algeria’s second straight Africa Cup of Nations group-stage exit by salvaging a 2-2 draw against Burkina Faso on Saturday.

Burkina Faso fans were already celebrating what they thought was their team’s progress to the last 16 when Bounedjah rose high to head Adam Ounas’ corner past goalkeeper Hervé Koffi in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time.

It was Bounedjah’s second goal after he canceled Mohamed Konaté’s first-half header by equalizing shortly after the break.

Burkina Faso substitute Bertrand Traoré scored with another penalty for “The Stallions.” The Aston Villa forward, who also scored late in the 1-0 win over Mauritania, sent his spot kick down the center of the goal in the 71st minute.

Bounedjah’s late equalizer left Burkina Faso on four points after two games, behind group leader Angola on goal difference. Gelson Dala scored twice to help Angola defeat Mauritania 3-2 in the other Group D game.

Algeria was left with two points from its opening two games, while Mauritania has zero. Only the top two in each group are assured of progress. Algeria plays Mauritania on Tuesday.

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“It’s a shame, but that’s the competition, that’s the Africa Cup,” Traoré said of missing the chance to guarantee Burkina Faso’s progress. “We have four points this evening. We’ll rest, and then we’ll go to win the third match.”

Algeria had made the better start but the Burkinabé improved as their opponents’ intensity dropped in the stifling heat. The temperature in Bouaké was 35 degrees C (95 F) when the game kicked off.

Konaté’s goal before the break was initially flagged offside, but a VAR check found he was in line with the last defender for Abdoul Tapsoba’s cross.

It set off unbridled celebrations among the many supporters who had made the relatively short trip south-west from neighboring Burkina Faso, which reached the semifinals in the last edition.

Bounedjah pounced after the break to equalize on the rebound after Koffi saved an effort from Nabil Bentaleb.

EAGLES SHARE THE SPOILS

Tunisia held Mali to a 1-1 draw in an Eagles duel to earn its first point in Group E.

Mali forward Lassine Sinayoko fired the regular “Eagles” ahead in the 10th minute with a low shot in off the far post.

But Hamza Rafia equalized 10 minutes later for the “Carthage Eagles” when he squeezed his shot under the goalkeeper after a well-worked team move.

Mali, which defeated South Africa in its opening game, moved top of the group on four points before South Africa’s game against Namibia on Sunday. Namibia enjoyed its first Africa Cup win by beating Tunisia 1-0 in their opening game.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer