Algeria 2 Nigeria 1 : Ighalo Nets 4th AFCON Goal, Mahrez Scores Sublime Injury Time Winner

Nigeria will battle for a third place finish in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations after suffering a 2-1 defeat against Algeria Sunday evening at the Cairo International Stadium.

Manchester City forward Riyad Mahrez was the match winner as his last gasp free kick secured victory for the Desert Foxes who will face Senegal in Friday's final

Algeria put the Eagles defence under tremendous pressure in the early stage of the game.

Algeria had a seventh minute effort go off target after a teasing cross by Youcef Belaili was not converted by Baghdad Bounedjah while Akpeyi had to palm away a dangerous cross from Riyad Mahrez in the 10th minute. William Troost Ekong cleared the ball eventually.

Ramy Bensebaini saw his 16th minute header miss target by whiskers but a goal would not have counted as he was in an offside position.

Four minutes later Bounedjah made an intelligent run to receive a pass from a team mate but Kenneth Omeruo cleared the ball inside the Nigerian box.

Akpeyi made himself big to deny Bounedjah after a failed clearance by Omeruo soon afterwards.

Both sides produced more tensed moments but Algeria's superior goal threat culminated in an own goal conceded by Nigeria's William Troost Ekong in the 40th minute after a Riyad Mahrez's innocuous cross came off Jamilu Collins and deflected off his chest.

The Eagles dominated possession midway into the match but an Iwobi shot in the 54th minute was tame.

An Oghenekaro Etebo shot struck Algerian defender Aissa Mandi. Referee Papa Gassama consulted VAR. Mandi was cautioned after the verdict was a penalty. Odion Ighalo scored from 12 yards to restore parity in the 73rd minute.

Eagles coach Gernot Rohr handed an AFCON debut to Henry Onyekuru in place of Samuel Chukwueze in the 77th minute.

Riyad Mahrez struck a free kick from 25 yards which beat Akpeyi in goal in the last minute of added time.