Zimbabwe draws 2-2 against Algeria in first AFCON Group B match

Zimbabwe senior men’s football team let a late lead slip against Algeria to draw 2-2 in the opening match of their 2017 African Nations Cup Group B campaign in Gabon on Sunday.

Algeria took the lead as Mahrez raced into the box and curled home a left-footed shot to make it 1-0. Six minutes later and Zimbabwe were level as some neat play on the edge of the Algeria box saw Kuda Mahachi drill the ball across goal and into the bottom corner. Nyasha Mushekwi scored a penalty after Onismo Bhasera was brought down in the box.

Algeria started the brighter in the second half, but Zimbabwe were excellent on the break. Algeria pressed forward in numbers against a tired Zimbabwe and they were unlucky again when a cross struck defender Elisha Muroiwa and bounced onto his crossbar and away to safety. Substitute Cuthbert Malajila failed to score in a one-on-one situation with the keeper with 10 minutes to play. Barely a minute later Mahrez grabbed his second to equalise, running through the Zimbabwe defence to finish.