Mahrez Spot-On as Algeria Edges Burkina Faso to Clinch Knockout Berth
Algeria officially secured their place in the Round of 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday evening following a one-nil victory over Burkina Faso at the Moulay Hassan Stadium. The Desert Foxes maintained their perfect start to the tournament, with captain Riyad Mahrez once again proving to be the difference-maker in a tightly contested affair.
This win ensures that Algeria will finish at the top of Group E regardless of their final group-stage result, marking a significant return to form for the two-time continental champions.
The decisive moment of the match arrived in the twenty-third minute when Rayan Aït-Nouri was brought down in the penalty area by a clumsy challenge from Ismahila Ouédraogo.
Riyad Mahrez stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner, marking his third goal of the tournament and sending the traveling Algerian supporters into a frenzy. Despite the early lead, the North Africans were forced to withstand heavy pressure for the remainder of the game.
Burkina Faso nearly drew level just before the halftime whistle when Pierre Kaboré’s powerful close-range header rattled the post, leaving the Algerian defense momentarily frozen.
The Stallions continued to push hard throughout the second half, particularly in a frantic final ten minutes. However, goalkeeper Luca Zidane—who was watched by his father, football legend Zinedine Zidane, in the stands—produced a series of crucial saves to deny both Georgi Minoungou and Lassina Traoré, preserving the clean sheet and the three points.
With two wins from their opening two matches, Vladimir Petković’s side has navigated the group stage with clinical efficiency and now sits comfortably at the top of the table with six points. Behind them, Sudan and Burkina Faso remain locked in a battle for the second qualification spot with three points each, while Equatorial Guinea has been officially eliminated after failing to secure a point.
Algeria will now look toward their final group match against Equatorial Guinea on December 31. Because top spot is already guaranteed, the fixture provides Coach Petković an opportunity to rotate his starting lineup and rest key players before the high-stakes knockout rounds begin. Meanwhile, Burkina Faso faces a “do-or-die” clash against Sudan on the same day to determine which side will join the Algerians in the next phase of the competition.
