The Red Devils of Equatorial Guinea on Christmas Eve in Casablanca Morocco gave the Stallions of Burkina Faso a stunning pin fall via two late goals scored in deep added time 2-1 to obtain maximum three points of the first match of group E.

 

The Stallions first scored through Lassine Traore in the 71st minute but the goal was ruled offside and that decision gingered Carlos Akapo to find his overlapping defender, Marvin Anieboh who scored the curtain raiser in the 85th minute.

 

The Red Devils pressurized the Stallions getting an equalizer in 90+5th minute when Da Ouattara found 23 year old energetic Georgi Minoungou who scored and Leverkusen’s defender, Edmond Tapsoba scored the winner in the 90+8th minute.

 

Basilo Ndong emerged the first BAD BOY of the tournament, a terminology used for layers flashed the Red card when he got a straight red for a serious challenge on Bertrand Traore in the 50th minute. 

 

Algeria in the second group E match played in Rabat defeated Sudan 3-0 with the fastest goal of the tournament scored by senior man Riyad Mahrez of Al-Ahli in the 2nd minute when he got an assist from Midfieder Hicham Boudaoui.

 

Mahrez got his brace (second goal)in the 61st minute from Amoura’s connect and Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza put icing on the cake with a 3rd goal scored in the 85th minutewhen central striker Baghdad Bounedjah stringed him a pass. 

 

Mid fielder, Salaheldin Adel of Sudan became the second BAD BOY of the tournament when he collected his 2nd yellow in the 39th minute and by the standing rules of football has to go early to the showers.

 

27 years old son of former French National Men’s Team Captain, Zinaden Zindene bearded Luca Zindane made his first appearance playing for his actual country of origin, Algeria. Luca who tends the goal for a second tier club Granada FC made two daring saves in the match.

 

Algeria tops group E with 3 points and 3goals; Equatorial Guinea is 2nd earning 3 points scoring 3 goals and conceding one; Burkina Faso is 3rd with no point scoring a lone goal and conceding 2 while Sudan is 4th on the table.

 

The second round matches of this group will be played on Sunday 28th December with Equatorial Guinea battling Sudan at 6pm and Algeria facing Burina Faso at 6:30 pm same day.

 

There will be no match tomorrow which is Christmas Day, but the second round matches resume on Boxing Day 26th December with group B when Angola takes on Zimbabwe at 1:30pm and the tough one between Egypt and South Africa at 4pm.

 

Group A second round matches will also be played on Boxing Day when Zambia 

files out against Comoros at 6:30pm and hosts Morocco tackles Mali at 9pm.