Algerian fans stop traffic and light flares in crazed north London celebrations after their football team wins African Cup of Nations for first time in 29 years
- Algeria beat Senegal 1-0 in the African Cup of Nations after a freak second-minute goal gave them the lead
- Thousands took to the streets across London including Trafalgar Square and on Old Kent Road
- Roads in north London had to be closed off and traffic diverted after jubilant fans partied in front of buses and lit dozens of flares
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Wild celebrations by Algerian football fans closed off parts of north London last night, as the country won the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 29 years.
Flares and flags filled the streets of Islington, with buses and cars being diverted off of the high street.
Trafalgar Square was also ‘locked up’ after hundreds of supporters descended on the central London spot to continue celebrations late into the night.
Algeria won the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time when a freak second-minute goal by Baghdad Bounedjah gave them a 1-0 win over gallant Senegal in the final.
Algerian football fans held wild celebrations across London last night after their country won the African Cup of Nations in a tense 1-0 win over Senegal at the final in Cairo, Egypt
Flares and flags filled the streets of Islington, with buses and cars being diverted off of the high street
The competition is the equivalent of the UEFA European Championship for Europe, and saw 24 nations play for the top prize.
Bounedjah stunned the Lions of Teranga with a shot which took a wicked deflection off Salif Sane and looped over the bewildered goalkeeper Alfred Gomis and into the net.
Algeria, who committed 32 fouls according to official match statistics, sat back after that and had to scrap for their win in a match that was certainly not a classic but was tense and gripping throughout.
Senegal, beaten by Cameroon on their only previous appearance in the final in 2002, were awarded a penalty for handball in the second half but the decision was revoked following a VAR review.
Trafalgar Square was also ‘locked up’ after hundreds of supporters descended on the central London spot to continue celebrations late into the night
The final whistle provoked wild celebrations among the large contingent of travelling Algeria fans. It was a fitting end to a tournament that, with 24 teams for the first time, produced plentiful drama even if quality was sometimes lacking.
Senegal were missing Kalidou Koulibaly, arguably Africa’s finest defender, through suspension and his absence was quickly felt.
The game got off to an extraordinary start when Bounedjah collected the ball, burst forward and unleashed a shot that took a wicked deflection off Sane.
Gomis stayed rooted to the spot, seemingly thinking that the ball was going out, but it dipped under the bar.
But Algeria sat back and allowed Senegal to claw their way back into the game.