MALABO: Ghana produced a storming comeback and Algeria ratified their top ranking, rekindling some of the attacking flair that took them to the second round of last year’s World Cup, as both advanced to the African Nations Cup quarter-finals in a dramatic denouement to Group ‘C’ on Tuesday.

Ghana came from behind to beat South Africa 2-1 in Mongomo to secure their berth in the quarter-finals as winners of the group, having looked set to finish bottom with barely 20 minutes to play.

Algeria, the top-ranked team in Africa at No 18 ended Senegal’s hopes with a 2-0 triumph in Malabo thanks to a goal in each half from Premier League stars Riyad Mahrez and Nabil Bentaleb to go through in second place at the expense of the Lions of Teranga.

Both finished on six points, and will play in the last eight in Malabo on Sunday. Senegal, who needed a draw to advance, finished with four points while South Africa were bottom of the standings with one.

“It was not easy to get out of this group,” said Algeria coach Christian Gourcuff, a Frenchman who took over in August.

In the last 16 of the World Cup in Brazil, Algeria came as close as anyone to knocking out eventual champions Germany with some attractive, attacking football.

Although the Algerians failed to really shine in their first two matches in Equatorial Guinea, the team came out attacking and dominated the opening 20 minutes against Senegal, taking the lead with an 11th-minute goal from Mahrez after a long free kick.

Bentaleb, taking a pass from Sofiane Feghouli, added the other in the 82nd as the defence held firm against an increasingly penetrating Senegalese attack.

“It was an excessively difficult game physically,” Gourcuff said. “We needed lots of discipline tactically and our technique and speed on the break helped us win.”

The Black Stars of Ghana, who have reached at least the semi-finals of each of the last four tournaments, were heading out when Mandla Masango smashed home on 17 minutes to give South Africa the lead.

However, their hopes were revived when defender John Boye equalised on 73 minutes, and with the momentum behind them, Avram Grant’s side went on to get the win they required when Marseille winger Andre Ayew rose majestically to head the winner with seven minutes to go from a cross by Abdul Rahman Baba.

“We deserve it because South Africa were not better than us. We have finished first in the group of death, which is not bad,” said Ghana’s Israeli coach Avram Grant.

Published in Dawn January 29th, 2015

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