Algeria end Gambia's Afcon hopes

Algeria drew 1-1 with Gambia in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualification group D match at the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Algeria on Friday.

As a result, the Desert Foxes end their successful qualifying campaign with a draw, while the Scorpions failed to qualify for the finals.

The two teams had played to a 1-1 stalemate in their previous group D game which was played in the Gambia last year.

The Scorpions were able to contain the Desert Foxes in the opening stages of the encounter.

Algeria were without their top scorer in their qualifying campaign, Baghdad Bounedjah, who scored three goals.

However, the hosts managed to break the deadlock just before the halftime break through Mehdi Abeid.

The France-based midfielder beat Modou Jobe in the Gambia goal-posts to make it 1-0 to Algeria in the 43rd minute.

The score was 1-0 to Algeria during the halftime break.

The Scorpions pushed for the equalising goal after the restart, but they could not beat Azzedine Doukha in goal for Algeria.

The visitors decided to introduce Italy-based striker Musa Barrow in the 64th minute as they looked to restore parity.

The Desert Foxes defence, which was marshalled by experienced defender Rafik Halliche, looked solid.

However, Gambia never lost hope as they grabbed a late equalising goal in stoppage time through Futty Danso.

The defender beat Doukha in the 92nd minute to ensure that Gambia held Algeria to a 1-1 stalemate.

Algeria (1) 1 (Abeid 43')

Gambia (0) 1 (Danso 90'+2)

Algeria: Doukha, Loucif (Hassani 90'+2), Halliche, Abdellaoui, Fares, Boudaoui (Benkhemassa 69'), Abeid, Bennacer, Ounas, Darfalou (Naidji 64'), Belaili.

Gambia: Jobe, Richter, Touray, Colley, Danso, Ngum (Barrow 64'), Sohna (Colley 81'), Sanneh (B.Jobe 55'), Jammeh, Adams, Marong