As the display of skill continues to unfold at the AFCON, Angola managed to hold Algeria to a 1-1 tie in their Group D opening match. The game kicked off with Algeria's aggressive attacks, leading to Baghdad Bounedjah finding the back of the net in the 18th minute. Bounedjah nearly doubled the lead in the 25th minute with a spectacular goal, only to have it disallowed for offside, robbing the match of what could have been a strong contender for the tournament's best goal. What initially seemed like a clean victory for the reigning 2019 AFCON champions took an unexpected turn. Angola managed to level the score in the second half, courtesy of a penalty. In the 65th minute, Angola's 31-year-old Mabululu seized an opportunity after being brought down in the box by Nabil Bentaleb. He calmly slotted home the penalty from a rebound that would have been a goal either way, setting the stage for a tense remainder of the match. Despite relentless efforts from both sides, the score remained level until the final whistle. Angola successfully guarded their goal, securing a hard-earned point and sharing honors with the formidable Algerian side in a match that unfolded with twists and turns.