Doha: Extra time goals from Amir Sayoud and Yacine Brahimi saw Algeria crowned the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup champions against neighbours Tunisia in a match punctured by innumerable fouls.
While many were expecting a hotly contested, action-packed affair between two of Africa’s top teams, what they witnessed instead was a game pockmarked by fouls and punctuated by regular bookings to players from both teams.
The fouls began as early as the third minute, when Tunisia’s Naim Sliti committed the first infraction of the game. Sofiane Bendebka was the first Algerian to commit a foul, just a minute later…one that was immediately followed up by another from Tunisia’s Ghaylen Chaalei.
German referee Daniel Siebert attempted to stamp his authority on proceedings by producing the first yellow card of the game in the 13th minute when defender Ilyes Cheti went into the book, the Algerian having committed yet another foul, before Tunisian Hannibal Mejri responded in kind with one of his own.
Three minutes later, it was the turn of Djamel Belamri to foul the Tunisians, following which the Carthage Eagles did have some control over the game. The Algerians conceded two quick corners to Sliti, sandwiching his 19th minute attempt on goal, before Montassar Talbi conjured up one of his own a moment later.
If this was, however, any indication of things to come, those watching would be treated to a combination of half-chances and incessant fouls. Algeria mustered attempts of their own through Tayeb Meziani, Yacine Brahimi, and Baghdad Bounedjah a few minutes later, before the fouls began to flow again.
Between the 34th and 37th minute, three fouls were recorded, and referee Siebert realised he needed to resort to stronger methods to stop the constant interruptions in play: Youssef Msakni and Seifeddine Jaziri both went into the book for Tunisia around the 40th minute mark, as did Algeria’s Bounedjah. Mohamed Ben Hmida also saw yellow in the 43rd minute as the fouls continued to rain down.
It was a similar story in the second half that saw no less than seven separate players commit fouls for either side, before Siebert snapped once again and booked Ferjani Sassi for his latest attempts to halt play in the 64th minute.
The game continued to follow similar lines – Sofiane Bendebka was booked after committing two successive fouls in stoppage time – before the referee brought 90 minutes to an end, with both sides – rather predictably – goalless.
Amir Sayoud’s goal nine minutes into extra time gave Algeria the lead, and try as they might, Tunisia could not find a way back.
Their hopes of mounting a comeback were extinguished when Brahimi made it 2-0, meaning the 2021 Arab Cup will go to the bigger of the two neighbouring countries.
