AFCON 2023: Mauritania's extraordinary win against Algeria clinches Pulse of the Day

The Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON 2023, continues to live up to the hype of being the tournament of the underdogs after minnow Mauritania ended Algeria’s journey in Cote d’Ivoire. 

Mauritania’s Lions of Chinguetti provided arguably the shock of the competition so far after a historic 1-0 win against the Desert Foxes in their final game in the group stage on Tuesday night.

In what proved to be the most dramatic day of the AFCON 2023, the Mauritanian Lions wrote their names in history books with a deserved and hard-fought victory. 

Pulse of the Day watched as the Lions sent packing their more illustrious opponents, Algeria, led by former African Player of the Year, Riyad Mahrez.

Inspired by Yali Dellahi’s first-half strike, the Lions needed their impressive goalkeeper, Babacar Niasse, to seal what turned out to be a first-ever win at AFCON and passage to the knockout stage. 

The Desert Foxes, expectedly, dominated the encounter at the Stade de la Paixin Bouake but could not find a way past the well-drilled Amir Abdou side. 

En route to his Man of the Match award, 27-year-old Niasse made five outing saves to deny the Mahrez-led attack and send Mauritania through to the round of 16.

After the game, Mauritania’s coach, Abdou, perfectly summed up the moment and victory.

“It is extraordinary what we are feeling and what we are going through,” he said after the match per the CAF website.

“The players had a historic game,” he added. “I told them today that they need to write their names in the history books of Mauritanian football and they have done that.”