Algeria did not feature captain Riyad Mahrez in their group stage AFCON match against Equatorial Guinea in Rabat, yet ended up snatching a 3-1 win as they became the second team, coming after Nigeria, to win all three group games at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Nine changes were made by head coach Vladimir Petkovic from the victory against Burkina Faso, but the substitutions didn’t do much for Les Fennecs.
Among those who performed outstandingly is stand-in winger Anis Hadj Mouss, who tormented the defence of Equatorial Guinea with his creativity and pace.
His corner kick stood as an assist for Zineddine Belaid to convert into an opening goal through a header, while another pinpoint cross found Ibrahim Maza, who was left unmarked, to score Algeria’s last goal.
The second goal was created by Fares Chaibi with a fine shot after he cut inside from the left.
Equatorial Guinea couldn’t move past the group stage after losing two of three games and struggled for intensity. via skipper Emilio Nsue, who fired a long-range shot early in the second half that ended in the net.
Algeria will now shift their attention towards the last-16 clash against DR Congo, which will be played at the same venue on January 6.
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