Algeria Clinch The AFCON Title After 29 Year Wait

It has been a long and hard journey to this moment, where we finally have our winner. From battles through the qualification to the whistle putting an end to the final match of the competition, it has not been a walk-in-the-park. The AFCON 2019 which has saw entertaining matches has finally been put to bed but what went down in the final battle?

The atmosphere was tense, drums and trumpets and songs rented the air from both sides. They had come to watch their team play, the stadium was unusually filled and congested. The first half started on high, making a string of dangerous passes and a shot which saw a dramatic goal in just the third minute. It almost seemed like a de-ja-vu of the third place play-off, an early goal. Bournedejam fired the shot and it took a deflection off a Senegalese defender, the ball was thought to be heading out wide by all, including the goalkeeper, the commentator and even me. Not until it dropped into the net in a breathtaking fashion with no resistance nor attempt at save from the goalkeeper, he literally watched the ball helplessly until it ruffled the net. 1:0 was it, and it marked the beginning invoked alot of emotions.

It was every one for himself. The aura of the game became more tensed and we saw alot of emotional outbursts most of which manifested physically. From needless tackles to apparent face-offs to card-deserving punches, it almost seemed like a low-budget royal rumble. Senegal grew hungrier, they hadn't won the competition for once and this was their chance. They came from being at the receiving end to dangerously poking and testing the Algerian defense but the desert foxes maintained their stance, they weren't going to give it up. They were solid in their defense, they had only conceded twice in the tournament so they tried to live up to their form. They also had not won it since 1990 so now, it came to who needed it more.

The second half started better for Senegal, they looked extremely dangerous on the attack, firing long range shots, curling dangerous crosses and lunging forward in aggression. Their persistence paid off, or so it seemed. A glimmer of hope came when the referee blew the penalty whistle against Algeria for an plapparent handball in the 18-yard box. It came down to arguments but VAR was just around the corner for proper analysis. The ball indeed struck a defender's arm and on a closer look, it was inadvertent. He was trying to hide his arms behind his back so he wasn't at fault. The referee waved off the penalty call, to the joy of the foxes and the anguish of the Senegalese. One thing I like about VAR is the suspense it brings, the anxiety it causes as the referee makes his way back to the pitch with a predetermined action.

The West Africans continued the surge forward, placing every move on a continuous loop but nothing came out of it. It was Algeria all the way. Frustration and exhaustion set in, as they edge closer to the final whistle. The Algerians did well to run down the clock and increase the level of frustration of their opponents. Their defense seemed like football's great wall of China. A chance came through for Senegal in the dying moments, it was a free kick from a dangerous position which would pass as their last attempt at goal. Sane decided to take it but fires a low effort into the wall, the ball was subsequently cleared and the referee ended the 'fight'. Wild celebrations from the Algerians followed, a sharp contrast to the tears and palpable heartbreak on the otherside.

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It is all over, we have come a long way down here and we can't but give it to the teams who entertained their fans. Algeria have done very well in this tournament and they deserve to be the winner of this competition. I also congratulate our dear Odion Ighalo on bagging the golden Boot of the tournament, it is not easy-peesy!!