Algeria were expected to get their Group E campaign at the tournament in Cameroon off to an easy start against minnows Sierra Leone, who were returning to the tournament for the first time since 1996.

Algeria came close to opening the score in the second minute as Riyad Mahrez fed Islam Slimani, who went round the Sierra Leone goalkeeper but ran out of room to try and find the target from a tight angle.

But Sierra Leone quickly showed they would prove no easy walkover as they came storming back down the other end and were close to scoring through Alhaji Kamara's sixth-minute effort.

Kamara went close with a header midway through the first half from a free-kick as Algeria struggled in the heat.

Yacine Brahimi had two chances after the break to put the Algerians in the lead as they began to exert their authority, with Mahrez at the heart of their attacking moves.

The game ended with both teams sharing a point.