Riyad Mahrez’s Algeria suffered their first defeat in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers after losing 2-0 to Mali on Wednesday in Bamako, with the winger coming on as a late substitute in the defeat.
A penalty from Seydou Keita and a late strike from Mustapha Yatabare meant both teams advanced to next year’s tournament, with Algeria finishing top of Group B.
Over in Group E, Jeffrey Schlupp was an unused substitute in Ghana’s 3-1 victory over Togo in Kumasi, meaning his nation secured top spot and qualified for the 2015 tournament.
Goals from Abdul Majeed Waris, Wakaso Mubarak and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu meant the Black Stars ended the group stages of the African Cup of Nations one point ahead of second-placed Guinea.
And in Group D, Alie Sesay’s Sierra Leone failed to qualify from their group, after rounding off their African Cup of Nations campaign with a 3-1 loss to Congo in Lubumbashi.
A double from Crystal Palace’s Yannick Bolasie and a penalty from Cedric Mongongu was enough to see off Sesay’s nation, with the Development Squad centre-half missing the game through suspension after already picking up two yellow cards in previous matches.
On Tuesday, Chris Wood captained New Zealand for the second game in a row, having scored a late equaliser against China in a 1-1 friendly draw last week in Nanchang.
The striker couldn’t prevent the All Whites from suffering a 2-0 friendly defeat to Thailand, but the experience of leading his nation will certainly be something to savour.
On the same day, City shot-stopper Kasper Schmeichel was an unused substitute in Denmark’s 2-0 friendly loss to Romania in Bucharest.
And Under-21 striker Simonas Stankevicius came off the bench to play 24 minutes in Lithuania’s goalless friendly draw with Ukraine in Kiev.
Meanwhile, young winger Tom Lawrence was an unused substitute in Wales’ 0-0 draw with a talented Belgium side on Sunday in Brussels.
The result means Lawrence’s nation sit second in Group B in the European Championships, just one point behind table-topping Israel.