Africa Cup of Nations - Group C

Score: Algeria 1-3 South Africa

Date: 19 January 2015

Venue: Estadio de Mongomo

Bafana Bafana began their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 3-1 loss to Algeria at the Estadio de Mongomo.

Algeria dominated from the onset as expected, with Yacine Brahimi and Riyad Mahrez seeing a lot of the ball in the opposing third, while Darren Keet had to be lively on a few occasions.

Shakes Mashaba's side started seeing more of the ball after the 20 minute-mark and nearly opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, as Dean Furman rattled the crossbar with a fine strike from 25-yards out.

However, Bafana were dealt a blow in the 28th minute, as defender Rivaldo Coetzee had to be stretchered off through injury.

Mashaba's side certainly grew stronger as the half went on and could have been ahead just before the halftime break but Andile Jali fired straight at M'Boli from three-yards out.

Bafana started the second half the stronger of the two and took the lead in the 51st minute, as Thuso Phala finished off a well-worked move to slot into the far corner.

Rantie was presented with a chance to double the lead a minute later from the penalty spot but the striker rattled his effort against the crossbar.

At the other end, Keet was it his best, as he pulled off two great saves to deny Islam Silmani from three-yards out.

Algeria eventually leveled matters in the 66th minute through an own goal from Thulani Hlatshwayo.

The Desert Warriors then took the lead in the 71st minute, as Faouzi Ghoulam skipped past Oupa Manyisa before drilling the ball past Keet.

Islam Slimani sealed the win in the 82nd minute, as he slotted under Keet, who should have done a lot better.

Here is how they will lined up:

Algeria: M'Boli, Mandi, Medjani, Halliche, Ghoulam, Feghouli, Bentaleb, Lacen, Mahrez, Brahimi, Slimani

South Africa: Darren Keet, Anele Ngcongca, Thabo Matlaba, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Rivaldo Coetzee, Dean Furman (C), Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa, Thusa Phala, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Tokelo Rantie