The Africa Cup of Nations continues to produce stunning upsets, as Mauritania, written off after two defeats, pulled off a sensational 1-0 victory over Algeria to send the traditional powerhouse crashing out of the group stage. Facing elimination heading into their final group match, Mauritania stunned the North African giants in the 37th minute through Mohamed Dellahi Yali's strike. Algeria, needing only a draw to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams, huffed and puffed but couldn't find an equalizer. Despite controlling less than 30% of the possession, Mauritania displayed remarkable resilience to hold on to their lead and secure a historic passage to the knockout stage. In the other Group D match, Angola maintained their unbeaten run in the tournament with a comfortable 2-0 win over Burkina Faso. They topped the group with 7 points, while Burkina Faso finished second and booked their place in the last 16. Pre-tournament favourites Algeria's early exit adds to the list of shocking results at the AFCON. The tournament has thrown up several underdogs, with Guinea also qualifying from a seemingly impossible position. Two more teams can squeeze through as best third-placed teams on Wednesday, with the final group games in Groups E and F poised to deliver more drama. Meanwhile, hosts Ivory Coast face a nervous wait. Despite having 3 points, their negative goal difference leaves them vulnerable. If Zambia avoids defeat and results in Group E don't go their way, they could find themselves watching the rest of the tournament from the sidelines, adding to the growing list of surprises at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.