AFCON 2025: Group E knockout qualification at stake as Algeria face Burkina Faso
.jpg)
Reading Time: 4min | Sun. 28.12.25. | 09:02
In the first group match of the day, Equatorial Guinea will face off with Sudan before Algeria takes on Burkina Faso in a top-of-the-group clash
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) continues with the second round of Group E fixtures that are bound to wet your football appetite on Sunday, 28 December.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news
In the first group match of the day, Equatorial Guinea will face off with Sudan before Algeria takes on Burkina Faso in a top-of-the-group clash.
Equatorial Guinea vs Sudan
Equatorial Guinea will take on Sudan in both teams' second Group E match at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca from 1800 hrs (EAT).
Both teams will consider the match a must-win in order to significantly boost their chances of qualification to the round of 16 after both suffered defeats in their opening matches.
Equatorial Guinea, who were reduced to 10 men in the 50th minute after Basilio Ndong was shown a straight red card, took an unexpected lead in the 85th minute through Marvin Aniebo.
However, two stoppage-time goals from Georgi Minoungou and Edmond Tapsoba in the 95th and 98th minutes, respectively, condemned them to their opening defeat.
Sudan, on the other hand, faced the wrath of Algeria, suffering a 3-0 thumping courtesy of a brace from Riyad Mahrez and a goal from Ibrahim Maza in a game that the Sudanese saw red through Salaheldin Alhassan.
Both teams are therefore keen on making amends in what will be the first meeting between the two sides at the AFCON finals.
Overall, they have met twice, in the 2019 AFCON qualifiers, where Equatorial Guinea won both matches, but neither team made it to the finals.
Equatorial Guinea head coach Guillermo Ganeta is hopeful that the lessons from the Burkina Faso defeat will drive them to victory.
“Naturally, our defeat to Burkina Faso was a tough pill to swallow. Matches like that are rare, and it is even more painful when it happens to us.
However, we must learn from this loss. I am proud of the team. We've demonstrated that we can compete at the highest level. I believe we will showcase a great performance again in the match against Sudan," said Ganeta.
His counterpart James Kwesi Appiah said that the team has placed the Algerian defeat behind them and have their eyes set on upsetting Equatorial Guinea.
“We had a rough start to the tournament. But credit must be given to my team. The guys faced one of the favourites of the Africa Cup and, despite an early red card, they never stopped playing and fought until the end.
We need to put the first match behind us. Now we're facing the most important game of this tournament, against Equatorial Guinea,” stated Appiah.
Algeria vs Burkina Faso
The second Group E match of the day will be a battle for early qualification as Algeria takes on Burkina Faso at the 22,000 seater Stade Prince Moulay Hassan in Rabat from 2030 hrs
With both teams coming into the match having secured victories in their opening clashes, a win for either side will see them book a place in the round of 16.
The two sides have previously met at the AFCON finals three times, all in the group stage and posted balanced results; one win for both, with the other match ending in a stalemate.
Their last encounter was in the 2023 edition held in the Ivory Coast, where they battled out to a 2-2 draw.
Overall, they have met 19 times, where both teams have won six times, with seven other matches ending in a draw.
Coach Vlamadir Petrovic is well aware of the tough task ahead but is confident of his side's strengths to claim victory.
“This (Burkina Faso) is a very competitive side, strong both physically and mentally. A team that shows on the pitch exactly what it wants to achieve, with high morale.
It is important to stick to our own principles, our own patterns. You can’t completely adapt to the opponent every three days,” said Petrovic.
Speaking before the tournament, coach Brama Traore said they will focus on their strengths even as they face strong teams on the continent.
“Everything is possible. We will respect every team because we know they have all prepared well. On our part, we will approach each match with a lot of desire and determination,” he said.
