Cheikhou Kouyate and his Senegal side suffered the heartbreak of an early elimination from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday.
Needing a point to secure their progress from the group stage, they came up short against Algeria as goals from Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez and Nabil Bentaleb, of Tottenham Hotspur, secured a 2-0 win for the North Africans.
With Ghana coming from behind to dramatically defeat South Africa 2-1 in the group's other concluding fixture, it meant Senegal dropped from top to third, two points behind both Ghana and Algeria.
Senegal started the tournament promisingly, with Kouyate starting in a 2-1 win over Ghana. The Hammers No8 was then a used substitute in their 1-1 draw against South Africa and returned to the starting XI against Algeria, but was unable to help the Lions of Teranga get the result they craved.