Africa Cup of Nations 2019, Senegal 0-1 Algeria: 5 Talking Points

#3 Match referees were too lenient in their decisions and another clear penalty was denied as VAR was absent

Algeria’s Ramy Bensebaini and Adlene Guedioura sandwiched Sadio Mane for a combined tackle.

One of the things that will get the fans eyebrows raising in the aftermath of this Group C clash is the decision making by the officials.

As the Algerian players went on to make rash tackles one after the other in desperately trying to hold on to their slender one-goal lead, the referee was more than happy to keep his hands away from the pocket. There were times when the officials completely overlooked a legitimate call for a free-kick to let the play go on.

Benlamri, who was already booked, got lucky when his challenge that caused Mane to trip on his run did not see him getting on the referee's book for the second time, despite the Senegal players engulfing the official after the incident.

VAR was sorely missed by the Senegalese, as Mane saw himself dispossessed in the Algerian box following a challenge by Guedioura and Bensebaini, who clattered into him in an attempt to stopthe Liverpool forward from unleashing a strike.