Algeria and South Africa faced off in their first match of the Africa Cup of Nations at the Estadio de Mongomo.
Both sides were looking to start their campaign well, and Ephraim Mashaba's side took the lead in the game when Thuso Phala fired them ahead early in the second half.
However, the game turned on a missed penalty from Tokelo Rantie as he struck the bar with his spot kick. Algeria equalised through an own goal from Thulani Hlatshwayo, and they quickly powered into the lead when Faouzi Ghoulam found the net.
Islam Slimani secured the victory with a strike in the 83rd minute to hand Christian Gourcuff's men their first win of the tournament.
Read how all the action unfolded in our commentary below.
Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Africa Cup of Nations match between Algeria and South Africa.
Both sides will be looking to get their tournament's off to the best possible start this evening after watching Senegal's late win over Ghana in the opening game of Group C. As a result, these teams are already playing catch up to Senegal in the fight for qualification for the next round of the competition.
ALGERIA STARTING XI: M'Bohli, Halliche, Mandi, Ghoulam, Medjani, Brahimi, Feghouli, Lacen, Bentaleb, Slimani, Mahrez
Subs: Doukha, Bougherra, Cadamuro, Mesbah, Belfodil, Soudani, Kadir, Djabou, Taider, Kashi, Zeffane
Subs: Doukha, Bougherra, Cadamuro, Mesbah, Belfodil, Soudani, Kadir, Djabou, Taider, Kashi, Zeffane
Christian Gourcuff's side is stacked with a lot of quality players based across the top leagues in Europe. Notably from the Premier League are Tottenham Hotspur's Nabil Bentaleb and Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez. Porto's Yacine Brahimi is a very exciting prospect and can dominate the midfield, while Algeria also boast the talented duo Sofiane Feghouli and Islam Slimani, who will cause a lot of problems in the final third of the pitch. Former Rangers and Charlton Athletic defender Majid Bougherra occupies a place on the bench this evening.
SOUTH AFRICA STARTING XI: Keet, Ngcongca, Coetzee, Hlatshwayo, Matlaba, Manyisa, Jali, Furman, Phala, Rantie, Vilakazi
Subs: Mathoho, Nhlapo, Masango, Zungu, Ndulula, Letsholonyane, Sangweni, Khuzwayo, Parker, Zwane, Phungwayo, Mabokgwane
Subs: Mathoho, Nhlapo, Masango, Zungu, Ndulula, Letsholonyane, Sangweni, Khuzwayo, Parker, Zwane, Phungwayo, Mabokgwane
South Africa are dedicating their performances in this tournament their keeper and captain Senzo Meyiwa, who was killed last year. Darren Keet has assumed his place between the sticks for the competition and will earn his fifth cap in tonight's game.
Both of the English-based players in Ephraim Mashaba's squad start for South Africa this evening as Doncaster Rovers's Dean Furman captains the team, while Bournemouth's Tokelo Rantie will lead the line alongside Sibusiso Vilakazi.
South Africa defender Anele Ngcongca feels that there is no reason that his side can't compete well in the tournament, despite the lack of high-profile players in their squad.
He told reporters: "The confidence and team spirit is very high, we just want to go out there and prove to the continent that South Africa has the talent.
"I believe we can hold our own against the much-fancied Algeria. We are all aware that for the two teams it's a crucial game and both want to start well.
"The squad that we have now has got fire in their eyes and the energy they have is unbelievable. We are all looking forward to this tournament and I think we can surprise a lot of teams."
The players are making their way out onto the pitch for the national anthems, so we're just minutes away from kickoff at the Estadio de Mongomo.
STAT ATTACK: Bafana Bafana haven't lost a game since March of last year when they were beaten by Brazil 5-0 in a friendly game, a run that stretches for 11 matches.
We're underway in this Group C contest.
Bright start for Algeria as they take the game to South Africa and they manage to force a corner as Feghouli's cross from the right is blocked. However, the ball in is poor and fails to test Keet as Bafana Bafana clear their lines with ease.
Brahimi advances with the ball and almost gets into the penalty area, but a good foot in from Ngcongca stops the midfielder in his tracks and Mashaba's side clear once more. All one-way traffic at the minute.
Algeria win a free kick 30 yards from goal and Ghoulam strikes from distance with a bit of curl on the ball. It's a tame effort but Keet fails to catch the ball as he spills it into the six-yard box, but fortunately for the keeper there is no player in white around to react, allowing him to gather.
Another free kick causes problems for Keet as the ball is whipped in from the right and Slimani heads towards goal without a great deal of power. However, the keeper again fails to gather at the first attempt, but he is fortunate once more as no player in white is there to turn the ball in from his mistake.
Keet finally claims a ball cleanly from a free kick as he comes through a crowd of players to catch Brahimi's cross in from the left. That should calm any nerves the keeper may have after his earlier slip-ups.
Slimani gets away with one here as he tries to clear the ball in his own box with a high boot as South Africa launched the ball into the six-yard box. The forward nearly hit Hlatshwayo with his boot, but the referee awarded a free kick to Algeria.
There is not much pace to the game at the moment as neither team has been able to get into a passing rhythm in the opening 15 minutes. There have been a lot of clumsy challenges as well, which maybe a factor of rustiness from both sets of players.
A through ball down the inside right channel almost finds the run of Rantie, who has his man beaten for pace. The striker knocks the ball past the on-rushing M'Bohli, but it has too much pace for him to catch and fire an effort at goal as it speeds behind for a goal kick. Promising move for South Africa!
SHOT! Brahimi finds space down the left and he unleashes a powerful strike towards goal, but Keet tracks the ball all the way and is able to claim the ball with ease into his chest. There are signs that this game might be opening up a little bit.
CHANCE! Rantie latches onto a long ball over the top of the Algeria defence from Jali as once again they are outpaced, but the striker rushes his effort as he skews his volley from inside the box well wide of the post.
OFF THE BAR! South Africa come within inches of taking the lead as Furman collects the ball outside the area and unleashes a stinging drive towards goal, but his effort crashes off the bar and bounces clear. M'Bohli may have got a fingertip on the shot, and if he did that, that is an excellent save from the keeper.
Problems for South Africa as Coetzee is stretchered off with an apparent injury. He didn't seem to be in discomfort due to a challenge, so it may have been something that occurred off the ball.
SUBSTITUTION: Coetzee's game is over and he is replaced by Nhlapo, as the defender looks to have sustained a knee injury.
Algeria have been somewhat subdued in the first 30 minutes of this game as an attacking threat, whether that is down to good defending from Bafana Bafana or just poor execution from Gourcuff's side is up for debate. They'll need to up their game to get a result out of this game because South Africa look more than capable of getting a goal this evening.
YELLOW CARD! Matlaba is very harshly booked for a challenge on Feghouli in the final third of the pitch. There was minimal contact as the referee appears to have given the decision for pulling the midfielder back, when it seemed he went to ground very easily. A good chance to Algeria to threaten from the set piece.
The free kick is awful from Mahrez as he overhits the ball and it sails over everyone in the box and out for a goal kick. A very poor attempt from the Leicester City winger.
The stop-start nature of this game is continuing as we approach half time. Neither side has been able to get a foot on the ball to control possession for meaningful period of the match, which has made clear-cut opportunities thin on the ground.
CHANCE! Mandi raids down the flank for Algeria and his cross is headed clear by Ngcongca, but a mistake from Hlatshwayo allows the full-back to fire an effort at goal on the follow-up. However, he can't control the shot as it sails wide and well over the bar. Mandi could have done better with that opportunity.
CHANCE! Great keeping from M'Bolhi keeps the scores level in this match as he races off his line to smother the ball at the feet of Vilakazi after the striker turned his man inside the box and looked certain to slot the ball into the net.
CHANCE! M'Bohli comes to his side's rescue again as Jali makes a run into the inside left channel and is picked out by Manyisa inside the box. Jali turns the ball onto his right foot and fires at goal, but the keeper comes up big to make the block with his feet before the ball is cleared.
There will be two minutes of added time.
HALF-TIME: Algeria 0-0 South Africa
It's goalless after 45 minutes of this Group C clash in the Estadio de Mongomo. South Africa had the better chances, especially towards the end of the half, but they just couldn't find a way through Algeria keeper Rais M'Bohli. On the occasion they did, Dean Furman's effort clattered off the crossbar, so Ephraim Mashaba will be very frustrated that his side will not be taking a lead into the break.
Christian Gourcuff will be concerned by his side's display in the first half as they failed to muster anything in the final third of the pitch as Yacine Brahimi, Islam Slimani and Sofiane Faghouli couldn't have a positive effect on the match. Their passing was poor and by the end of the half they were reduced to lumping long balls to Slimani, which Bafana Bafana dealt with, with ease. While at the other end, Gourcuff's team were cut open too easily towards the end of the half, which will be another concern.
The players are making their way back out onto the pitch, so we should be back underway shortly.
We're back underway in this Group C clash.
Brahimi makes headway with a surging run to the edge of the area, but he is stopped in his tracks before he can advance into the box by a good challenge from Hlatshwayo. Better from Algeria to start the half.
GOAL! Algeria 0-1 South Africa (Phala)
South Africa take the lead and it's no more than they deserve as they flood the box with runners from deep, and Rantie turns the ball into the path of Phala inside the six-yard box, who steers the ball into the corner of the net. A lovely move from Bafana Bafana.
PENALTY TO SOUTH AFRICA!
MISS! Rantie misses from the spot as he blasts his effort off the crossbar, and Algeria are let off the hook in this match. The penalty came as a result of another excellent attacking move this time down the right as Phala found Vilakazi, who was scythed down by Mandi. The defender was lucky to escape with a booking for his challenge, but his team got away with it.
CHANCES! Algeria come so close to getting a leveller as they work the ball down the right and Mandi slides a pass inside to Slimani, who tries an audacious back-heeled effort which is well saved by Keet. The rebound falls straight to the striker and he launches another strike at goal, but Keet turns the ball onto the bar and South Africa manage to hack the ball to safety.
SUBSTITUTION: Belfodil comes on for Algeria in place of Mahrez.
CHANCE! Nhlapo raids forward down the right for Bafana Bafana and is able to beat his man and find Rantie with a low cross into the area. The striker tries to hit the ball first time on the penalty spot, but he scuffs his strike and M'Bohli is able to gather.
CHANCE! Another chance comes from more good work down the right as the cross comes to the feet of Rantie, who in turns plays it back to Jali on the edge of the box. However, the midfielder hits his effort over the bar with little pressure on him. Jali had to hit hit the target there at the least.
The South Africa midfield are on top in this game at the moment and Jali lifts a cross to the back post for Phala. He has support in the middle, but he decides to go for the shot himself and volleys his strike into the sidenetting.
GOAL! Algeria 1-1 South Africa (Hlatshwayo OG)
Algeria are back in the game and it's so unfortunate for Hlatshwayo as he nods the ball into his own net as he tries to clear the danger from a cross from Brahimi. Keet wasn't in the best position and watched helplessly as the ball looped over his head and into the net.
CHANCE! South Africa almost retake the lead immediately as Rantie forces his way through the middle of the defence. He can't get full contact on the ball, but it still has enough power to travel towards the bottom corner, although M'Bohli comes to his side's rescue with a good save with his feet.
Trouble in the box for South Africa as Keet drops the ball inside his own box as he tries to come through a crowd of players to claim a cross. Fortunately for the keeper the ball drops to his own player, and Manyisa clears the ball behind for a corner.
GOAL! Algeria 2-1 South Africa (Ghoulam)
Algeria take the lead in spectacular fashion as Ghoulam raids down the left and beats the challenge of Manyisa with ease before drilling an effort through Keet at his near post. A great effort from the defender and an excellent fightback from Gourcuff's side.
Halliche is brave as he dives as the feet of Vilakazi to make an important block as the striker lined up a shot from the edge of the area. The defender has to go off the field for treatment after taking a whack in the shins for his trouble.
SUBSTITUTION: Ndulula comes on to the field to replace Rantie, who will be mulling over his game-changing penalty miss. Meanwhile, Halliche is back on the pitch for Algeria after receiving treatment.
Algeria are doing their best to take the pace out of the game at the moment to try to eek out the clock. They're using the ball well in possession for the first time in the match as they look to close out the three points.
GOAL! Algeria 3-1 South Africa (Slimani)
Slimani finds the net and it's game over for South Africa as Keet makes a horrendous error as he allows the striker's shot to squirm under his body. The danger came from very little as Belfodil knocked a ball into the path of Slimani, whose effort was tame, but the keeper got his technique all wrong and has ended his side's hopes of getting a positive result out of this game.
SUBSTITUTION: Masango comes on for Bafana Bafana and replaces Vilakazi.
Algeria are controlling possession well here and look set to register their first win of the competition to get their campaign off to the perfect start. It certainly didn't look that way after 55 minutes!
There will be four minutes of added time.
Algeria are in not in the mood to allow South Africa a sniff of getting back in this game as Ndulula is clattered as he tries to break into the box, allowing Gourcuff's men to regain possession and take down more time off the clock.
FULL-TIME: Algeria 3-1 South Africa
Algeria proved their credentials as one of the favourites for the tournament as they battled back to claim a victory in their opening match. It did look unlikely after Thuso Phala fired Bafana Bafana ahead and they were awarded a penalty minutes later, but Tokelo Rantie's miss from the spot changed the game. Christian Gourcuff's side seized the momentum, and got back into the match in fortuitous circumstances as Thulani Hlatshwayo diverted the ball into his own net, but from then on it was one-way traffic as Faouzi Ghoulam and Islam Slimani fired Algeria to the victory.
South Africa shouldn't be too disheartened by their loss as they outplayed one of the best teams in the competition for nearly an hour, and if they had taken their chances they could have won comfortably. However, Algeria proved to have the quality when it mattered the most to earn the three points.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Be sure to stick with Sports Mole for our continued coverage of the Africa Cup of Nations throughout the month. But from me, it's goodbye.
