Riyad Mahrez’s first-half penalty and late-game saves from Luca Zidane guided Algeria to a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso, confirming their place in the 2025 AFCON Round of 16.
Algeria has officially qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 after a narrow 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso at the Moulay Hassan Stadium.
The Desert Foxes joined continental giants Nigeria and Egypt as the first teams to secure knockout progression with a game to spare.
The decisive moment arrived in the 23rd minute when Riyad Mahrez converted a penalty, marking his 37th international goal for the two-time champions.
Burkina Faso proved to be a resilient opponent, nearly equalizing just before the interval when Pierre Kabore’s header struck the woodwork.
Despite a strong start to the second half by the Stallions, the Algerian defense remained disciplined.
Burkina Faso goalkeeper Herve Koffi kept his side in the hunt with a stunning close-range save from Ibrahim Maza, but the Stallions were ultimately unable to break through a well-organized Algerian backline.
The final stages of the match saw Luca Zidane, son of French legend Zinedine Zidane, take center stage.
The goalkeeper produced two vital saves in the dying minutes to deny Georgi Minoungou and Lassina Traore, ensuring Algeria maintained their slender lead.
While Algeria prepares for their final group match against Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso remains in contention for the knockout phase, needing a victory over Sudan in their upcoming fixture to advance.