AFCON 2025: Maza and Chaïbi on target as Algeria maintain perfect record | OneFootball

Algeria were unable to register a single win in the last two AFCON tournaments, but they won all three games in the group stage this term. Farès Chaïbi and Ibrahim Maza were among the scorers in the 3-1 win over Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday.

On his return to the starting lineup, Chaïbi scored Algeria’s second goal in the 25th minute. Maza, who provided the assist for the Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder, made it three with a header before the half-time break.

If he keeps this form in the knockout stages, the Bayer Leverkusen star will be a strong candidate for “Player of the Tournament”. The Berlin-born attacking midfielder represented Germany at the youth level until he decided to switch allegiance last year.

With Algeria confirmed as Group E winners, Vladimir Petković rotated his side as Ramy Bensebaini and Mohamed Amoura were unused substitutes alongside Riyad Mahrez. Emilio Nsue, who was the top-scorer of the last AFCON edition, scored the first goal Algeria conceded with a superb finish. Algeria will face DR Congo in the Round of 16 next week.

Meanwhile, Edmond Tapsoba and Cyriaque Irié helped Burkina Faso finish second in the group ahead of Sudan. Leverkusen’s experienced center-back and Freiburg’s prospect started for the 2013 finalists as they beat Sudan 2-0 in what was an end-to-end encounter.

Burkina Faso will have to wait for the final games of Group F to determine their Round of 16 opponents. Sudan will face Senegal when the knockout stages start on Saturday.