One of the top favourites to win the 2017 African Cup of Nations, Algeria, crashed out of the tournament  after being held to a 2-2 draw by Group B winners Senegal.

Islam Slimani scored a brace, a two yard volley and a scuffed effort that made Algeria keeper dive wrong way, but that was not enough to beat a much-changed Senegal side in Franceville.

Pape Diop and Moussa Sow cancelled out his efforts, although even victory would not have been enough as Tunisia beat Zimbabwe to take second spot.

Algeria started on high note and within a short time, Ismail Slimani opened the scoring on 10 minutes with his first goal of the finals, finishing off Sofiane Hanni’s cross from six yards to put Desert Foxes ahead.

Algeria nearly registered a second moments later but Hanni could not head Riyad Mahrez’s corner on target.

Mahrez could have widened the margin just after the half-hour mark but saw his low effort saved by Cheick N’Diaye in the Senegal goal after a fine exchange of passes with Yacine Brahimi.

Senegal equalised just before the interval as Diop sent a bouncing half-volley past Malik Asselah after Aissa Mandi’s header fell to the Espanyol midfielder.

It was Leicester pair Mahrez and Slimani who combined to put Algeria back in front after 52 minutes, the former seeing an untidy finish just cross the line from his club-mate’s cross.

The Algerians had no more to throw at the Senegalese who deservedly finished as leaders in Group B with 7 points from three games.

Tunisia, who beat Zimbabwe 4-2 also on Monday, finished second in Group B with six points while Algeria who failed to win any match in Gabon settled for third spot in the group with a paltry two points.