Algeria secured top spot in Group E at the Africa Cup of Nations with a 100% record after they beat Equatorial Guinea 3-1.
2025 Africa Cup of Nations
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Match Report
Vladimir Petkovic made nine changes to his Algeria side as they had already booked their place in the last 16, but that made little difference to their domination thus far in the tournament as their relentless first-half display set them on their way to victory.
Algeria immediately piled the pressure on Equatorial Guinea, and it told in the 19th minute when Zineddine Belaid glanced Anis Hadj Moussa's corner into the far corner.
And that lead was doubled just six minutes later when Fares Chaibi, who was causing all sorts of problems for the opposition, was played into the box by Ibrahim Maza before rifling in a shot at the near post.
Maza then got on the scoresheet himself shortly after the half-hour mark, with Hadj Moussa the provider again as his cross was met by the Bayer Leverkusen youngster to give Algeria an unassailable lead.
Algeria did take their foot off the gas in the second half, and Equatorial Guinea pulled a goal back in the 50th minute as captain Emilio Nsue scored with a stunning finish into the top-left corner, but it proved to be just a consolation.
Burkina Faso also progressed into the knockout rounds from Group E, defeating Sudan 2-0 with goals from Lassina Traore and Arsene Kouassi to finish second.
Data Debrief: Maza continues to prove himself on the big stage
It was a straightforward win for Algeria in the end, with Petkovic's rotated side producing 1.53 expected goals (xG) from 16 shots to Equatorial Guinea's 0.4 from nine attempts.
20-year-old Maza, who scored in their first game against Sudan, was impressive once again. He created four chances, the joint-most alongside Hadj Moussa, while winning six of his seven duels and two of his three tackles.
Maza has created the most chances (eight) for Algeria at the 2025 AFCON, and became the first player under the age of 21 to appear in all three group stage games for Algeria in a single edition since Nabil Bentaleb in 2015.
Line-ups
Equatorial Guinea XI: Emilio Nsue, Mascarell, Pablo Ganet, Marvin Anieboh, Jannick Buyla, Esteban Orozco, Saúl Coco, Jesús Owono, Álex Balboa, Charles Ondo, Nabil Ondó
Subs: Obiang, Manuel Sapunga, Iban Salvador, Aitor Embela, Pepín Machín, Álex Masogo, Luis Asué, Loren Zúñiga, Dorian Hanza, Gael Akogo Esono, Néstor Senra, Javier Mum, Prince Ngaah
Algeria XI: Anthony Mandréa, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Zineddine Belaid, Mohamed Amine Tougai, Himad Abdelli, Ramiz Zerrouki, M. Bakrar, Anis Hadj Moussa, Rafik Belghali, Farès Chaïbi, Ibrahim Maza
Subs: Mandi, Mahrez, Baghdad Bounedjah, Bennacer, Bensebaini, Luca Zidane, Ilan Kebbal, Youcef Atal, Hicham Boudaoui, Adem Zorgane, Mohamed Amoura, Adil Boulbina, Oussama Benbout, Mehdi Dorval, Redouane Berkane