Luanda — The system of deciding the outcome of group standings at the Africa Nations Cup will come under expected fire after a contrived goalless draw between hosts Angola and Algeria in Luanda on Monday saw the both through to the quarter-finals.
As a a result Mali were eliminated despite finishing with the same number of points as the Algerians and having a better goal difference.
Current Nations Cup regulations determine that the result of the group match between two teams tied on points is counted as the tie-break and because Algeria beat Mali 1-0 last week, they are the other side into the last eight alongside group winners Angola.
Mali can feel aggrieved that neither Angola nor Algeria showed any appetite for the final 25 minutes, going through the motions to the obvious irritation of the crowd. But both sides have defended their tactics and squashed any suggestion of impropriety.
“There was no arrangement between us. Both teams played to minimum risk and achieved their objective,” said Algeria's coach Rabah Saadane.
“We have fulfilled our first objective of qualifying for the next round and now we are going all out to go one better than we have ever done before,” added Angolan coach Manuel Jose. “It wasn’t a great spectacle but we didn’t risk anything.”
Having calculated the permutations, both teams adopted a low-risk approach, producing a static game.
One of the few highlights was the running of Algeria winger Hameur Bouazza. The Blackpool player was prepared to try his luck and his run down the byline in the 48th minute created the best opportunity of the game as he whipped in a tanatalising cross.
But it evaded both Abdelkader Ghezzal and two Angola defenders beside him, to the great relief of the home crowd who went deathly silent for a split second as they stared at the potential horror of a goal for the Algerians.
Bouazza had another opportunity on the hour mark, the last chance of a game that ran on for a further 30 minutes.
Angola’s best chance came as early as the eighth minute when Djalma cut inside and had the goal in front of him but hit his shot too tamely.
