MONGOMO, Equatorial Guinea - Tournament favourite Algeria avoided an unpleasant surprise at the African Cup of Nations on Monday

MONGOMO, Equatorial Guinea - Tournament favourite Algeria avoided an unpleasant surprise at the African Cup of Nations on Monday. Bob Cousy Celtics Jersey . Four-time champion Ghana did not.Group C kicked off in Mongomo with two comebacks as Algeria went behind and then saw South Africa miss a penalty before rallying for a 3-1 win to open its campaign.While Algeria took time to get going in far-eastern Equatorial Guinea, Ghana lost its way after leading early against Senegal. The Senegalese ensured one of the tournaments toughest groups was full of intrigue by clinching a 2-1 win over the Black Stars with substitute Moussa Sows stoppage-time winner.Algeria — by far Africas best team at last years World Cup — only lived up to its pre-tournament hype in the final 20 minutes of its African Cup opener.Thuso Phala finished a clever South African move for the surprise lead at Mongomo Stadium. But Tokelo Rantie missed a penalty three minute later, giving Algeria the impetus it needed to come back.The Algerians forced an own goal by Thulani Hlatshwayo soon after and, confidence restored, fired in two more through Faouzi Ghoulam and Islam Slimani to end up relieved winners.We had a bad 10 minutes, Algeria coach Christian Gourcuff said.In fact, Algeria had a pretty poor first 45 as South Africa created the far-better chances. And if Ranties penalty was inches lower at the start of the second, it would have been a tough task for the Algerians.While Algeria moved top of Group C, Ghana found itself under early pressure in its search for a long-awaited title after Senegal muscled its way to a late victory in the first game in Mongomo.Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan sat out while he recovers from a mild bout of malaria, and watched as a spectator in the dugout when Andre Ayew stroked home a penalty in the 14th minute to give the Ghanaians reward for a bright start.Things changed drastically in the second half.Senegal found its momentum and was level when Mame Biram Diouf headed against the post and reacted quickest to score from the rebound.Like Algeria, Senegal found life in the closing stages but left it right to the very end to secure its crucial opening victory, when Sow hit home with what was effectively the last kick of the match.Its good to have three points but nothing is done yet, Senegal coach Alain Giresse said.___Gerald Imray is on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GeraldImrayAP Shaquille ONeal Jersey . - Pierre-Maxime Poudrier scored twice and added an assist, and Antoine Bibeau made 43 saves as the Val-dOr Foreur downed the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 6-3 on Sunday to force Game 7 in their Quebec Major Junior Hockey League final series. Bill Russell Jersey . Felton pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. He admitted he knowingly had a large-capacity ammunition magazine and a semi-automatic pistol without a license. http://www.celticssale.com/kids-larry-bird-celtics-jersey/ . -- Steven Stamkos scored his first goal since returning from a major injury, Ryan Callahan had his first goal with Tampa Bay, and the Lightning beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 on Thursday night.PARIS - So unbeatable for so long until the closing days of Grand Slam tournaments, Roger Federer is suddenly accumulating early exits. Federers streak of nine consecutive quarter-finals at the French Open ended Sunday with a 6-7 (5), 7-6 (3), 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 fourth-round loss to 18th-seeded Ernests Gulbis of Latvia. "A lot of regrets," Federer said. "I just couldnt kind of figure it out." The 17-time Grand Slam champion had not left Roland Garros so soon since 2004, when he was beaten in the third round by Gustavo Kuerten. After that decade-old setback, though, Federer made at least the quarter-finals at a record 36 consecutive major tournaments, a streak that ended with a second-round loss at Wimbledon last year. Federer also put together record Slam runs of 10 finals and 23 semifinals in a row when he was at his dominant best. Now the 32-year-old Federer has bowed out before the quarter-finals at three of the last four majors. "I think it was the biggest, probably, win of my career," said Gulbis, who most certainly could have dispensed with the word "probably." Addressing spectators who sang Federers first name between points, Gulbis said: "Im sorry I had to win. I know all of you like Roger." The result fit with the topsy-turvy nature of this tournament: Both reigning Australian Open champions, No. 3 Stan Wawrinka and No. 2 Li Na, lost in the first round; No. 1 Serena Williams left in the second round. Gulbis now plays No. 6 Tomas Berdych, who eliminated the last American man, No. 10 John Isner. In another quarter-final, No. 2 Novak Djokovic will face No. 8 Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ont. Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and No. 24 Fernando Verdasco set up a fourth-round meeting by finishing off victories in matches suspended Saturday night because of fading light. In womens action, 2012 champion Maria Sharapova ran off the last nine games to come back and beat No. 19 Samantha Stosur 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 for a quarter-final berth against 35th-ranked Garbine Muguruza of Spain, the 20-year-old who stunned Williams last week. No. 18 Eugenie Bouchard, from Montreal, will face No. 14 Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain in another quarter-final. The fourth-seeded Federers resume includes the 2009 French Open title, and he was a four-time runner-up in Paris to Rafael Nadal. But Federer was hardly in top form Sunday, making 59 unforced errors and getting broken twice while serving for a set. That iincluded at 5-3, 40-15 in the second, when Federer sent an overhead right to Gulbis, who whipped a backhand passing winner. Walter Brown Celtics Jersey. "I was lucky, I have to say," Gulbis said about that point. "I was really lucky." Said Federer: "Things got tough from then on for, like, a half-hour for me." He lost the last five points of the second-set tiebreaker, then dropped the third set, too. Another key moment came when Gulbis left the court with a trainer to take a medical timeout while trailing 5-2 in the fourth. As he walked out, Gulbis motioned to Federer, as if asking for permission to go. When Gulbis returned, some fans jeered and whistled at him, and he pointed to his lower back as if to say, "Hey, I was injured." At his news conference, Federer alternated between sounding a little perturbed about the lengthy intermission — and resigned to the idea that what Gulbis did was within the rules. "In the past, I guess, its been abused much more than today, but still, what can you tell?" Federer said. "He didnt look hurt in any way. But if you can use it, you know, might as well do it." Gulbis strokes had momentarily gone astray before that break, but afterward, the 25-year-old Gulbis once again displayed the big-hitting tennis that had many marking him as a future star when he was a teenager. He won 10 of the next 12 points, punctuating shots with exhales that sounded like growls. The fifth set was all Gulbis, who hadnt been to the quarter-finals at a major tournament since the 2008 French Open. Hes spoken openly about focusing more on enjoying the nightlife than perfecting his craft, and drew attention last week for saying he wouldnt encourage his younger sisters to pursue professional tennis because a woman "needs to think about family, needs to think about kids." In the concluding set, Gulbis raced to a 3-0 lead, thanks largely to Federer miscues. In the second game, Federer netted backhands and forehands to offer up break points, then pushed a forehand wide to give Gulbis a lead he never relinquished. After that miss, Federer grabbed a ball and swatted it in anger straight up in the air, a rare sign of exasperation from him. "Hes Roger Federer, but he also gets tight, you know," Gulbis said. "Hes probably going to make (that forehand) seven out of 10 (times). Other guys are going to make two out of 10. Mistakes happen." ' ' '