Algeria qualifies for the round of 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a goal from Mahrez

The Algerian national team has officially secured its qualification to the round of 16 (round of 16) of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, after achieving a valuable and difficult victory over its counterpart, the Burkina Faso national team, with a score of 1-0, in the match that brought them together as part of the second round of Group Five.

The Desert Warriors owe their victory to their captain and Al-Ahli Saudi star, Riyad Mahrez, who scored the only goal of the match in the 23rd minute from a brilliantly executed penalty kick. With this goal, Mahrez continued his impressive form in this edition of the tournament, finding the net for the second consecutive match after his outstanding brace against Sudan in the opening round.

Mahrez shines and leads the top scorers

Thanks to this decisive goal, veteran star Riyad Mahrez took sole possession of the top spot in the continental competition's scoring charts with three goals, one ahead of his closest rival, confirming his readiness to lead the Algerian national team to the advanced stages. This performance reflects the high level of skill the player possesses, honed through his consistent participation and outstanding performances in the Saudi Professional League with Al-Ahli.

Group Five's Position

With this result, the Algerian national team raised its tally to a perfect 6 points, securing not only qualification for the next round but also officially topping Group E, regardless of the outcome of its final group stage match against Equatorial Guinea. Meanwhile, Burkina Faso's points total remained at 3, placing them second in the group, meaning their qualification will be decided in the final round when they face Sudan, currently in third place with the same number of points, in what will be a match that feels like an early final between the two teams.

The importance of winning and the historical context

This early qualification is of paramount importance to the Algerian national team, which is striving to restore its continental glory and seek its third star in its history after winning the titles in 1990 and 2019. This victory gives the Algerian national team's coaching staff, led by its coach, a great deal of comfort before the third round, as it will allow them the opportunity to rest the key players and try out new players to prepare them for the decisive knockout stages, and avoid fatigue or injuries in light of the pressure of matches.

On a regional level, this strong performance sends a very strong message to the other teams vying for the title, that the Algerian team is present in force and with the character of a champion, overcoming any previous setbacks, and relying on the experience of its professional stars and the cohesion of its group.

It is worth noting that the regulations of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the tournament stipulate that the top two teams from each of the six groups qualify directly for the knockout stage, in addition to the four best third-placed teams, which makes the struggle intense in the final round to secure a place in the round of 16.