The Desert Foxes are African champions for the second time in their history. An early goal in the first half of proceedings ensured Algeria lift their first title since 1990.
Algeria had been very impressive throughout the tournament with their silky play but needed a huge deflection on a Baghdad Bounedjah shot in the opening minutes of a scrappy game to win the trophy. He had cut inside from the left in the second minute of the game and saw his strike deflect off Salif Sane, dropping over goalkeeper Alfred Gomis into the top-right corner.
Unlike the first game in the group stages between the two, Senegal dominated this game as they had over 60% of the ball but they were however wasteful in front of goal with just 3 shots on target from a total of 12. In truth they never really looked like scoring as they weren’t creative enough in the final third. They did however have an awarded penalty overturned by VAR in the second half.
Senegal won several free kicks in the game and should have done better with their deliveries into the final third in what was an ill-tempered game.
In the end, Djamel Belmadi's men defended well as they have done throughout the tournament and secured the victory. They finished the competition as champions and deservingly so with 13 goals scored and conceding just twice in open play. They also finished the competition unbeaten, beating Senegal twice en route to becoming champions.
This is the second final defeat for Senegal in the Afcon. They also lost their only other final in 2002 when their side, skippered by their current manager , Aliou Cisse lost to the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.
Meanwhile Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo won the golden boot with 5 goals in the tournament whilst Senegal won the fair play award. 21 year old Ismael Bennacer was named the player of the tournament.