Afcon 2017: Riyad Mahrez scores twice to rescue draw against Zimbabwe

Riyad Mahrez scored twice, one a late equaliser, as Algeria were held to a 2-2 draw by Zimbabwe on day two of the Africa Cup of Nations in Group B.

Mahrez, the Leicester City winger, gave Algeria a 13th-minute lead with a curling shot and he salvaged a point for Algeria with his second eight minutes from time after Zimbabwe had turned the game around.

Algeria twice hit the woodwork before levelling, first through a Ramy Bensebaini header and when Zimbabwe defender Elisha Muroiwa narrowly avoided an own goal when he sliced a clearance.

Kuda Mahachi made it 1-1 just four minutes after Mahrez’s opening goal, and Nyasha Mushekwi’s penalty on 30 minutes put Zimbabwe ahead. Algeria surged forward in the last 10 minutes and Mahrez’s long-range shot found a way past goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva.

The Desert Foxes could have snatched victory, when Mukuruva came flying out and left his goal wide open but Yacine Brahimi could not take advantage, as Zimbabwe, making their first appearance at the tournament finals since 2006, held on for the draw.

The result followed hosts Gabon being surprisingly held 1-1 by outsiders and tournament debutants Guinea-Bissau on the opening day on Saturday.