Equatorial Guinea 1-3 Algeria result - Desert Foxes set up Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash with DR Congo after topping Group E

Algeria finished their group campaign in style, maintaining their 100% record with a 3-1 win over Equatorial Guinea. The East Africans offered minimal resistance in the first half before rallying to win the second.

Despite Algeria head coach Vladimir Petkovic making six changes from their progress-securing victory over Sudan, including captain Riyad Mahrez who handed the armband to Ramiz Zerrouki, the B-team proved every bit as equipped as the A. 

After a gradual build-up, Algeria opened the floodgates on 20 minutes. An inswinging corner from Hadj Moussa was met by the glancing header of Zineddine Belaid.

The second came just six minutes later. Fares Chaibi made a darting run down the left to pick up a perfectly-timed ball from Ibrahim Maza, then drove into the box and buried it past Owono.

Maza then turned goalscorer for Algeria’s third. Hadj Moussa, the most dangerous player of the half, replicated his first assist from open play, with Maza putting a bullet header through Owono for his second of the tournament.

Equatorial Guinea needed an early second-half goal to give themselves hope, and captain Emilio Nsue provided it on 50 minutes. Receiving the ball on the right edge of the Algeria box, he let rip with a rocket past Anthony Mandrea and into the far corner. 

Despite it being a more even affair than the first 45, Algeria never looked like relinquishing their lead. As time went on, Equatorial Guinea tired, making a number of clumsy challenges and picking up a rash of yellow cards. Algeria came closer to a fourth than Equatorial Guinea were to a second or third, with Chaibi cracking a shot against the bar on 63 minutes.

The game finished with a more respectable scoreline than at times it might have been, as the two-time champions charge into the last 16.

One last corner for Equatorial Guinea for which the goalkeeper marches up the pitch but it comes to nothing. Algeria go marching on, and they will play Senegal in the next round.

Machin bends the kick over the wall, but bends it wide. That's almost that, I reckon.

Nice effort, but he isn't quite able to pull off the move from the free kick.

Is that a thing? Maybe it can be a thing.

That feels about right.

Marvin Anieboh goes in heavy on Ilan Kebbal.

I'm not quite sure what riled him but after a brilliant performance he almost ruined it, and arguably was lucky not to be given his marching orders.

Replaced by Nestor Senra.

Equatorial Guinea's players are tired, and it's showing defensively.

No more than clumsy but it was through the back of it him, which made it more dangerous.

Another player who's put in a strong performance.

He famously scored a screamer for Las Palmas against Villarreal a couple of years ago. This one, it's safe to say, isn't as good.

Sets up a free kick within range for Equatorial Guinea. Zerrouki is perhaps lucky to escape a booking.

Landed heavily and seemed to hit his head either in the air or as when he landed. The referee immediately calls for treatment and there's a bit of a delay in play. Thankfully the creative player gets back to his feet.

Michael Ngaah on for Charles Ondo, as Gael Akogo Esono comes in for Jannick Buyla.

Pablo Ganet sees the ball poked through his legs for the second time today. Not an experience any footballer enjoys.

As we get a shot of the bench. He might officially be available as a substitute, but I don't think we can expect to see him out on the pitch in the next 20 minutes.

It does look like he took a whack, and it seemed to be from the underside of a boot as he was tumbling to the deck. It wasn't intentional at all, and Nsue sportingly puts the ball out so Hadj Moussa can receive some treatment.

Another powerful strike from close range. There would have been nothing Owono could have done and he knows it.