Algeria have come from behind to earn a 3-1 win over South Africa in their Africa Cup of Nations opener this evening.

The two teams struggled to create any chances in the opening stages until Yacine Brahimi saw his attempt saved by Darren Keet.

Midway through the first half Dean Furman came within inches of giving South Africa the lead when his powerful effort from outside the box came crashing off the bar.

Aissa Mandi then almost punished his opponents for some slack defending at the back, but he volleyed his strike high over the bar.

With a couple of minutes of the first half remaining Andile Jali had another chance to give Bafana Bafana the lead, but after working some room inside the box, he saw his close-range attempt blocked by Rais M'Bolhi.

The teams headed into the break on level terms, but six minutes into the second half South Africa broke the deadlock when Sibusiso Vilakazi laid the ball off for Thuso Phala to slot home.

They had a great chance to double their lead three minutes later when Vilakazi was brought down by Mandi inside the box, but Tokelo Rantie smashed the resulting penalty onto the bar.

The South Africans were made to pay for that miss, as in the 67th minute Thulani Hlatshwayo headed a Brahimi cross into his own net.

It got even worse for Bafana Bafana five minutes later when Faouzi Ghoulam drove into the box from the left, before crashing in a strike at the near post to give Algeria the lead.

In the 83rd minute Islam Slimani put the result beyond doubt, as his low shot found the net to ensure a winning start for the Desert Warriors in their Cup of Nations campaign.