An eighth minute opener from
Stars coach MilovanRajevac would be pondering on his side's lack of attacking prowess that rendered most of their threats unfruitful while also devising strategies to purge the shaky displays of his defense- all before his
Algerian Coach DjamelBelmadi would take the results as a reassurance of his side's readiness to defend the title whilst asserting their claim as a reckoning force of the African game.
Both sides featured second string teams with
Algerian captain RiyadMahrez and midfield maestro SofianeFeghouli were also out whilst
Ounas got
The Ghanaians organised themselves after falling back, resorting to counter-attacking play orchestrated by Thomas Partey's electrifying runs with the ball through the middle that gave the Algerians scary moments.
This nearly earned them an early reaction to cancel the deficit, but after Partey's thumping run to put
Determined to douse the growing Ghanaian confidence, the Algerians increased the pressure and nearly grabbed the second but striker Baghdad Bounedjah's connection to a sweet free-kick from YacineBrahimi dragged wide.
The Stars were presented with a wave of opportunities to level early in the second-half but their blunt attack failed to find the back of the net.
Enterprising youngster, FatawuIssahaku's curled effort was palmed away by experienced Algerian hand, RaisM'Bolhi.
The Stars goal scoring woes was once again exposed when substitute striker
Fatawu, who was
Djamel's introduction of Bannacer, Slimani and Benrahma handed back control of the game to the Algerians.
The Fennecs regained their dominance as midfielder YoucefAttal incisive cross was turned in by Mensah before Slimani added the third to crush the egos of the Ghanaians.
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