AFCON 2023: Almoralvidi of Mauritania creates greatest upset in 2023 AFCON with 1-0 victory over Fennecs of Algeria

The Almoralvidi of Mauritania created the greatest upset in the history of the African Cup of Nations with a 1-0 victory over the Fennecs Foxes of Algeria, thereby eliminating the two-time African champions in Group D.

The historic moment occurred at Stade Bouake on Tuesday night when the unfancied Almravids of Mauritania secured their first-ever AFCON victory, defeating and eliminating the two-time African champions, the Desert Foxes of Algeria, with a lone goal. 

The Almoralvidi scored their only goal through Mohammed Dellah Yaly, who created history by slamming in a bullet shot in the 37th minute of the game, during which the newcomers defended stoutly.

Algeria’s Fennecs Foxes will rue their loss and missed chances, facing an unexpected premature exit from AFCON 2023, as they will no longer participate in the tournament.

Algeria and Mauritania have met twice in friendly matches, with Algeria winning 3-1 on January 7, 2017, and 4-1 on June 13, 2021, both in Algiers.

Algeria sealed their fate with sloppy performances right from the start of their first match, ending in a 1-1 draw with the Pelancras Negras of Angola. The Fennecs Foxes continued their subpar performances in the second match, playing to another 2-2 stalemate against the Stallions of Burkina Faso, earning a paltry two points out of a possible six.

Although their chances of qualifying for the knockout stage were slim, given that Burkina Faso and Angola were ahead on points, the Fennecs of Algeria should have fought hard for the third-best position, like Cameroon. Instead, they fell like a house of cards against Almoralvidi of Mauritania, thus exiting AFCON with their tails between their legs, securing only two points.