Defeat for Avram Grant's Ghana would have ended their campaign but they remain in the competition after a hard-fought win, which seemed to be slipping away from them with only a minute of stoppage time left to play.
But Gyan outstripped Algeria defender Carl Medjani for pace to latch onto a hopeful long ball and slot the ball past Rais M'Bolhi, cueing scenes of wild celebration at the Mongomo Stadium.
It was a dramatic end to a scrappy game that had flattered to deceive for long periods and failed to live up to the pre-match hype.
In a first half that saw more cards issued than shots registered, Algeria's Nabil Bentaleb spurned the half's only clear chance. Making a late dash into the box, the Spurs midfielder shot first time from a neat cut-back, but put the ball well wide with his weaker right foot.
Ghana saw plenty of the ball but did very little with it until the second half when Gyan, who returned to the team after overcoming a bout of malaria, flashed a header just wide.
The Black Stars improved dramatically after the break and Jordan Ayew almost broke the deadlock with a cheeky flick went over the bar after good work by his brother, Andre, on the left flank.
Bentaleb missed another clear opening for Algeria, dragging his shot a whisker wide of the post when he should have broken the deadlock.
Gyan then missed a similar chance for Ghana moments later but, with the game heading towards a goalless conclusion, he won it at the death to spark jubilation in the Black Stars' camp.
20' - HUGE CHANCE! First big chance of the game falls to Algeria's Bentaleb! The Spurs man makes a late run into the box and shoots first time from the cut back from the right, but puts his right-footed effort well wide. Big chance, should score.
52' - CHANCE! Gyan almost gives Ghana the lead, but his header flashes just wide of the post.
62' - CHANCE! Andre Ayew beats his man down the left and crosses low for his brother Jordan, whose cheeky flick from close range almost catches out M'Bolhi but just goes over the bar.
63' - BAD CALL! Gyan is flagged offside as he goes clean through but he is NOT offside. Terrible call by the linesman.
66' - CHANCE! Bentaleb should score for Algeria! He receives the ball in space on the left, but drags his shot a whisker wide of the far post. Decent effort, but he score there.
67' - CHANCE! Moments later Ghana break and get an identical chance at the other end, but Gyan drags his shot even further wide.
90'+2 - GOAL! Ghana 1-0 Algeria. Gyan scores for Ghana! What a story this is. A long ball catches out Medjani, who is burned for pace by Gyan and the Black Stars forward finishes into the bottom corner past M'Bolhi. 1-0 Ghana!
Ghana's first shot on target was in the 48th minute. Before that they'd gone almost 90 minutes of football without registering a shot on target.
Algeria didn't have a single shot on target but committed 23 fouls.
Asamoah Gyan (Ghana): Malaria, what malaria? The most famous man in Ghana just added to his legend status in the country with a goal that keeps them in the tournament and propels them into their final Group C game against South Africa. Worked hard and took his goal well.
Ghana: Brimah 6, Afful 7, Rahman 7, Amartey 7, Mensah 7, Acquah 6, Andre Ayew 7, Badu 6, Atsu 6, Gyan 8, Jordan Ayew 7. Subs: Mubarek 7, Asante N/A, Otoo N/A
Algeria: M’Bolhi 7; Mandi 7, Bougherra 8, Medjani 6, Ghoulam 7; Lacen 7, Taïder 7, Bentaleb 6; Feghouli 6, Brahimi 6; Belfodil 6. Subs: Mahrez 6, Slimani 6, Kadir N/A.
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