Algeria’s forward #7 Riyad Mahrez (C) fights for the ball with Burkina Faso’s defender #26 Arsene Kouassi (L) and Burkina Faso’s midfielder #06 Mohamed Zougrana (R) during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Group E football match between Algeria and Burkina Faso at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat on December 28, 2025. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
Algeria booked their spot in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) last 16 after captain Riyad Mahrez scored a decisive penalty in a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Burkina Faso on Sunday.
The Manchester City star converted from the spot in the 23rd minute at Rabat’s Moulay El Hassan Stadium, and Algeria held on to claim all three points in a physically intense contest.
With two wins from two matches, Algeria sit atop Group E with six points, having yet to concede a goal.
The 1990 and 2019 African champions are living up to their pre-tournament billing as one of the favorites under coach Vladimir Petkovic.
Burkina Faso and Sudan both have three points and will face off in the final group game on Wednesday. Even if Algeria lose their final match against Equatorial Guinea, who are currently pointless, they are guaranteed to finish first in the group and will play their last-16 tie in Rabat on January 6.
“We were expecting a very tough match. We fought very hard and the most important thing is that we won the game. Now we are qualified and that was the main goal,” said Algeria forward Ibrahim Maza, who was named man of the match.
He added, “We knew before that they would be very tough but we said we would have to fight against it, also be dirty, tackle very hard and we did that well today,” highlighting the physical nature of the clash.
The two sides previously drew 2-2 at the last AFCON in the Ivory Coast, a result that contributed to Algeria’s group-stage exit.
This time, Algeria secured the win thanks to a penalty awarded after Manchester City’s Rayan Ait-Nouri was fouled in the box. Mahrez made no mistake from the spot, marking his third goal of the tournament following his brace in Algeria’s 3-0 win over Sudan.
The winger, appearing in his sixth AFCON, now has nine goals in the competition, setting a new Algerian record.
The match was played in front of a passionate crowd of 18,522, with France legend Zinedine Zidane in attendance to watch his son Luca play in goal for the Desert Foxes.
Burkina Faso came close to an equalizer when Hearts striker Pierre Landry Kabore headed just wide from a corner. Algeria also threatened, with Mahrez setting up Mohamed Amoura for a shot saved by goalkeeper Herve Koffi in first-half stoppage time. In the second half, Maza missed two good chances while substitute Georgi Minoungou shot just over late on as Burkina Faso pressed for a goal, but the Desert Foxes held firm.
(AFP)
