CAF Africa Cup of Nations
Final Score: Algeria 1 – 0 Burkina Faso
Riyad Mahrez is Algeria’s all-time leading scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations with nine goals. [Getty Images]
Riyad Mahrez scored his third goal in two matches during the Africa Cup of Nations, successfully converting a penalty to secure a 1-0 victory for Algeria over Burkina Faso in Rabat, thereby advancing to the knockout stage.
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The 2019 champions broke their streak of two consecutive group-stage exits with Mahrez’s composed strike in the first half after Ismahila Ouedraogo’s careless foul.
The former Manchester City winger, who had netted twice in Algeria’s opening 3-0 win against Sudan, placed his shot low into the corner, leaving goalkeeper Herve Koffi with no chance.
Burkina Faso responded with determination, with Pierre Kabore coming close to equalizing on two occasions before halftime.
The Stallions continued to attack after the break but did not register a shot on target until the 82nd minute. Meanwhile, Koffi made several crucial saves to deny Algeria’s quick counter-attacks.
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This result puts Algeria at the top of Group E with six points, while Burkina Faso and Sudan are tied with three points following the Falcons of Jediane’s 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea earlier on Sunday, resulting in the elimination of the Equatoguineans.
All four teams will play their final group-stage matches on Wednesday at 16:00 GMT, with Algeria facing Equatorial Guinea in Rabat and Burkina Faso taking on Sudan in Casablanca.
Zidane Watching from the Stands
At 34, Mahrez continues to exhibit the big-match experience that propels Algeria forward.
His leadership and poise are invaluable for Les Fennecs, especially as they seek consistency in their performance during this tournament.
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How long Mahrez can maintain this level of play against tougher opponents remains to be seen.
While Mahrez showcased his skills on the pitch, another football legend, Zinedine Zidane, was in attendance, watching his son Luca as he kept yet another clean sheet after recently declaring for Algeria in September.
The 27-year-old demonstrated confidence as he dealt with Burkina Faso’s late-game pressure, effectively managing their aerial attempts and long-distance shots to preserve Algeria’s narrow lead following Mahrez’s penalty.
Kabore narrowly missed with a volley, and just before halftime, he hit the post with a header. Substitute Georgi Minoungou also came close but curled his shot just over the bar with ten minutes remaining.
Efforts from Lassina Traore and Edmond Tapsoba were indicative of Burkina Faso’s struggles in front of goal.
Ultimately, Algeria’s defensive strength and Mahrez’s experience made the difference.
Securing qualification with a match still to play should boost the confidence of coach Vladimir Petkovic’s squad, positioning Algeria among the frontrunners alongside Egypt and Nigeria.