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Algeria went out of the tournament without winning a game despite Islam Slimani’s two goals against a Senegal reserve side

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Mon 23 Jan 2017 15.52 ESTFirst published on Mon 23 Jan 2017 13.00 EST
Senegal’s Papakouli Diop celebrates with teammates after scoring an equaliser.
Senegal’s Papakouli Diop celebrates with teammates after scoring an equaliser. Photograph: Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images
Senegal’s Papakouli Diop celebrates with teammates after scoring an equaliser. Photograph: Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images

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Full time: Senegal 2-2 Algeria

Peep peep! A much-fancied Algeria side go out of the Africa Cup of Nations at the group stage, without winning a game. They needed to beat Senegal and hope Zimbabwe won against Tunisia. Neither happened, so they are off to catch Flight DO1. Senegal, the group winners, will play Cameroon in the quarter-finals, and Tunisia will meet Burkina Faso. Thanks for your company, goodnight!

88 min Mahrez misses an excellent chance to win it, sidefooting over with his right foot after a good return pass from Ghezzal.

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86 min “Evening Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “I don’t think the internet has reached Orkney yet. And even if it has, they’ll be too busy fishing and milking cows to notice. Said affectionately by a fellow Scot, of course. You know, just in case.”

85 min Sow’s blocked shot breaks to Diame, whose well-struck volley from 25 yards is too close to Asselah.

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83 min Another Algeria substitution; Ghezzal replaces the impressive Hanni, who made Slimani’s first goal and should have made his third.

81 min The two teams are running out of time if they want to score a winner, or start a brawl. It seems Slimani came off with an injury; his thigh is being strapped as he reclines on the bench.

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79 min Algeria should just turn up for the quarter-final against Burkina Faso and then, when questioned, cite alternative facts that show they finished second in the group.

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77 min Slimani misses a golden chance for a hat-trick. He was put through by a cracking pass from Hanni and had lots of time to consider his shot as N’Diaye came out. He tried to sidefoot it into the far corner and put it a couple of yards wide.

76 min “Seeing as how the high-flying Sadio Mané is being rested today and doesn’t have to play for his country again until Saturday 28 January,” says Peter Oh, “surely he will be allowed to hop on a plane back to Liverpool for the EFL Cup semi-final 2nd leg against Southampton on Wednesday 25 January before re-joining his Senegal teammates?”

Yes, Fifa are keen to do everything they can to bring the EFL Cup into the 21st century. I think their next plan is to make it a 48,128,256,512-team tournament.

75 min Hanni’s ambitious long-range shot is fumbled by N’Diaye, who claims it at the second attempt under pressure from Slimani.

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69 min “The timing of this tournament is designed to prevent Liverpool from signing the second Salif Diao or the new El Hadji Diouf,” says Ian Copestake. “So for that I thank it.”

You need more empathy in your latte mate.

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67 min The game is starting to peter out now, though fisticuffs should not be completely ruled out. Slimani follows a backheader to the keeper N’Diaye, who claims it and then goes down laughably after the merest contact with Slimani.

61 min Cadamuro, who was booked a moment ago, clatters Diop in the face with a leading arm. He’s pretty lucky to stay on the pitch.

61 min Mahrez has been superb today, with some glorious touches. I wonder where he’ll be playing next season. He is good enough for any team in the world.

59 min “Marcellus would have voted for Obama - and made all his clan follow suit - but not Clinton,” says Charles Antaki. “Butch wouldn’t have voted at all. And we can hazard a fairly good guess at who the guys in the pawn shop would have favoured.”

So who voted for Pedro?

58 min Sarr rolls over spectacularly and repeatedly after a foul by Cadamuro, who is booked. I think it was the fall rather than the foul that caused Sarr’s pain.-

56 min “Evening Rob,” says David Horn. “Sorry to email in and all, with your Communication Vacuum Record only 40 minutes from completion ... but I’ve diligently used Apple-F (hipster CTRL-F) to search for Sadio Mané, and not found a mention. Assuming & hoping, on behalf of Liverpool (and Senegal!) fans, he’s being rested as Senegal top the group, rather than he’s broken his arm / leg. Right? Right!!”

He’s already scored two goals at each end; the reason you couldn’t find him is that I couldn’t be bothered to put the accent on the E.

(No, you’re right, he’s being rested along with nine others.)

GOAL! Senegal 2-2 Algeria (Sow 54)

Sow makes a silk purse out of a half-chance to bring Senegal level straight away. A loose ball broke to him 20 yards from goal, and he blasted a low first-time shot across Asselah and into the corner. That’s an excellent goal.

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GOAL! Senegal 1-2 Algeria (Slimani 52)

Slimani shanks Algeria into the lead. It was made by the superb Mahrez, who moved into the box on the right and teased a lofted pass to Slimani at the far post. He took it on his chest and then, as it bounced up awkwardly, inadvertently sliced a dismal looping shot beyond the reach of N’Diaye. N’Doye got back to hoof it clear off the bar but the ball had crossed the line.

Senegal’s goalkeeper Khadim N’Diaye concedes the second goal. Photograph: Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images
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50 min A chance for Senegal. Ciss fizzes a good pass along the line of the penalty area; Sarr arrives on the other side, opens up his body and sidefoots a few yards wide. It was a pretty unconvincing attempt.

46 min Peep peep! Algeria begin the second half with nothing to play for except pride, and we know what Marsellus Wallace said about that.

In happier news, we’re still on course for a record: the first Guardian liveblog with absolutely no emails. Don’t let me down now!

Half time: Senegal 1-1 Algeria

That was a pretty miserable half for Algeria - not so much in this game but because Tunisia are 4-1 ahead against Zimbabwe, and that means Algeria will be on Flight DO1 tonight. See you in 10 minutes for the second half.

GOAL! Senegal 1-1 Algeria (Diop 41)

Senegal are level. Sarr’s cross is half cleared by the head of Mandi. It comes to Dop, backing up the play just outside the D, and he bobbles a volley through a posse of defenders and past the unsighted Asselah.

Papakouli Diop celebrates with teammates after scoring the equaliser. Photograph: Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images
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