After an own goal sent Senegal into the final at Tunisia's expense, the same misfortune struck Nigeria in Sunday's second semi-final when William Troost-Ekong inadvertently chested the ball into his own net.
A weird own goal in extra time handed Senegal a 1-0 victory over Tunisia in the drama-filled first of Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals, with a place against either Algeria or Nigeria in Friday's final.
"Today, the bar was too high, Tunisia were too strong for us, they were a very well-organised team".
Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye and Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly also feature in the Senegal team.
Previous Algeria bosses have sometimes struggled to keep their players pulling in the same direction, but not Belmadi.
Senegal: Sadio Mane and company are coming off a 1-0 win over Benin in the quarterfinals, and that's three straight shutouts.
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In the second half, Ivory Coast's Jonathan Kodja pushed the game into extra time with a shot into the left-hand corner.
Wilfried Bony had his penalty saved in the shootout by goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi to give Algeria the advantage. The Algeria captain has been in wonderful form, his touch and finish in the 3-0 win over Guinea in the last round indicative of a player brimming with confidence after helping Manchester City to the domestic treble in England. Head coach Djamel Belmadi kicked a player out of the squad for a relatively minor off-field issue pre-tournament and that appears to have set the tone.
Having said that, in the last round Ivory Coast showed that pace can cause problems at the back for Algeria, and Nigeria have a never-say-die spirit at this year's Cup of Nations.
"Penalties, you have to keep focusing until the end to win because if you lose concentration you miss a penalty, then you out you don't qualify".
"If we lost during the match, then we would feel more disappointed but in penalties it is 50-50".
Algeria, who last won the Cup in 1990, will now face Nigeria in the semi-finals.
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