CHAN 2022: Hosts Algeria reach quarterfinals with win over Ethiopia
Aymen Mahious became the match-winner for Algeria in successive African Nations Championship (CHAN) matches when they beat Ethiopia 1-0 on Tuesday to reach the quarterfinals.
Backed by a passionate 40 000 crowd at the Stade Nelson Mandela in Algiers, the hosts won the match thanks a 52nd-minute goal from the forward.
Mozambique neglected to mark Mahious at a corner, and he controlled the ball with his chest before poking it into the net off the hands of goalkeeper Fasil Gebremichael.
Mahious scored the only goal last Friday, from a penalty, when Algeria beat Libya in the opening match of a tournament confined to footballers playing for clubs in their country of birth.
A couple of victories gave Algeria six points in Group A, followed hy Mozambique with four, Ethiopia with one while Libya are pointless.
Mozambique scored three times in 10 minutes as they came from behind to edge Libya 3-2 in the first match of a double-header.
In the final Group A matches on Saturday, Algeria will play Mozambique in Algiers while Ethiopia take on Libya in the eastern coastal city of Annaba.
It was another efficient performance by title favourites Algeria, who finished fourth in their only previous Chan appearance 12 years ago.
Mozambique conceded an own goal to trail Libya at halftime, then turned the match around as Melque Alexandre, Feliciano Jone and Pachoio Lau Ha King netted from the 74th minute.
Anis Saltou grabbed a late consolation goal for former champions Libya, who became the first of the 17 teams in Algeria to be eliminated.
