Algeria Overpower Burkina Faso to Seal Early AFCON Knockout Spot

Algeria made light work of their group-stage duties at the Africa Cup of Nations, brushing aside Burkina Faso to secure qualification for the knockout rounds with a game to spare.
The North African giants were in complete control from start to finish, underlining their status as one of the tournament favourites. Burkina Faso struggled to match Algeria’s tempo and organisation, managing just a single goal — and even that came from the penalty spot.
2025 Africa Cup of Nations
Algeria - Burkina Faso 1:0 (1:0)
Goals: Mahrez, 23 (penalty) (1:0)
Algeria: Zidane L.; Mandi; Hadjam (Bounedjah, 13); Aït-Nouri; Bensebaini; Chergui (Belghali, 60); Bennacer I. (Abdelli, 88); Boudaoui; Maza; Mahrez (Belaïd, 61); Amoura (Chaïbi, 88)
Substitution: Bounedjah (from 13); Belghali (from 60); Belaïd (from 61); Chaïbi (from 88); Abdelli (from 88)
Bench: Mandrea; Tougai; Atal; Zerrouki; Zorgane; Kebbal; Hadj Moussa; Boulbina; Bakrar
Yellow Cards: Bennacer I. 27; Amoura 73
Burkina Faso: Koffi; Tapsoba E.; Dayo; Yago (Simporé, 78); Kouassi A.; Zougrana (Minoungou, 46); Ouédraogo Ism.; Sangaré G. (Irié, 78); Traore B.; Kabore P. L. (Traoré Las., 66); Ouattara Da.
Substitution: Minoungou (from 46); Traoré Las. (from 66); Simporé (from 78); Irié (from 78)
Bench: Ouedraogo S.; Nikiema K.; Ayindé; Nagalo; Djiga; Kaboré I.; Touré I. B.; Badolo; Aziz Ki; Bouda
Yellow Cards: Sangaré G. 10; Kabore P. L. 16; Tapsoba E. 89
