Sports
AFCON 2025: Mahrez penalty powers Algeria to last 16th spot
Algeria booked their place in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations after edging Burkina Faso 1-0 on Sunday, thanks to a first-half penalty from captain Riyad Mahrez.
Mahrez calmly converted from the spot midway through the opening half at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, a goal that proved enough in a tough and physical encounter against a resilient Burkina Faso side.
The Desert Foxes were forced to defend for long spells as Burkina Faso pushed for an equaliser, but Algeria stayed organised and held on to secure all three points.
With the win, Algeria, champions of Africa in 1990 and 2019, now have a perfect six points from two matches in Group E and have yet to concede a goal.
Vladimir Petkovic’s team has lived up to expectations as one of the tournament favourites with another solid and disciplined performance.
Burkina Faso and Sudan come next on three points each, but play each other in the final round of group games on Wednesday, that means Algeria are guaranteed a top-two finish even if they lose their final outing against currently pointless Equatorial Guinea.
Algeria had to come from two goals down to draw 2-2 with the Stallions when the teams met at the last AFCON in the Ivory Coast, a result which contributed to their group-stage elimination.
This time, they claimed all three points, with the penalty that decided the game, awarded when Manchester City’s Rayan Ait-Nouri was bundled over.
Mahrez made no mistake with his 23rd-minute kick as he followed his brace in the opening 3-0 defeat of Sudan to take his tally at this Cup of Nations to three goals.
The former Leicester City and Manchester City winger, appearing at his sixth AFCON, now has nine goals at the tournament, an Algerian record.
The game was played out amid a boisterous atmosphere in a stadium packed with Algerian fans in a crowd of 18,522.
France legend Zinedine Zidane was among those present to watch his son Luca play in goal for the Desert Foxes — he was also at the win over Sudan.
Pierre Landry Kabore, the Hearts striker, came close to equalising for Burkina Faso with a header from a corner, before Mahrez teed up Mohamed Amoura for a shot that was saved by goalkeeper Herve Koffi at the end of an Algerian breakaway in first-half stoppage time.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza twice failed to convert good opportunities in the second half, while substitute Georgi Minoungou fired just over as Burkina Faso pushed unsuccessfully for an equaliser.
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