The 1990 AFCON was all about Algeria. An impeccable performance from all angles made sure that Algeria hosted and won the tournament for the first time in history. A tournament competed by 8 teams hosted in two beautiful cities as Group A occupied Algiers and Group B settled in Anaba.
Algeria opened the tournament at the Stade Juillet 1962 in Algiers with a 5-1 dismantling of Nigeria with a brace each from Rabah Madjer and Djamel Menad as Djamel Amani rounded off a beautiful day for the Desert Warriors. Okocha’s 82nd-minute strike was just a consolation.
Algeria defeated Ivory Coast and Egypt 3-0 and 2-0 in their 2nd and 3rd games of the Group easily.
In the knockout phase, Menad and Amani’s goals sent Algeria to the finals after a 2-1 win over Senegal.
Cherif Oudjani’s 38th-minute goal ensured Algeria won 1-0 against Nigeria in the finals to lift the ultimate.
Abdellhamid Kermali’s side won all 5 games they played within 90 minutes.
Algeria scored 13 goals and conceded two goals to Jay Jay Okocha and the other one was an own goal scored by Abdellhakim Serrar in the semi-finals against Senegal.
At the end of the tournament, Rabah Madhjer was voted for as the best player of the tournament with Djamel Menad winning the top scorer award with four goals.
CAF’s Team of the tournament included 6 Algerians as goalkeeper Antar Osmani, Ali Benhalima, Djamel Amani, Rabah Madjer, Tahar Cherif El-Ouazzani and Djamel Menad all made the best 11 of CAN 1990.
The 1987 European Cup Winner, Rabah Madjer, was a bonafide superstar during the 1990 AFCON as a whole nation expected him to lead them to their first title.
Rabah Madjer won the 1987 Africa Footballer of the Year hence it was never a surprise seeing him win the Best Player of the 1990 AFCON.
