AFCON: Algeria Keep 100% Run as Burkina Faso Beat Sudan

Sudan will take on reigning champions Senegal in the round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations after suffering a 2–0 defeat to Burkina Faso in their final Group E match on Wednesday, while Algeria maintained their perfect record with a 3–1 win over Equatorial Guinea.

At the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, Lassina Traore put Burkina Faso ahead early on, heading home on 16 minutes. Sudan were handed a golden chance to draw level midway through the first half when they were awarded a penalty, but Algozoli Nooh sent his spot-kick wide.

Arsene Kouassi of French Ligue 1 side Lorient sealed the victory late in the game, breaking into the box to score on 85 minutes.

Both Burkina Faso and Sudan had already secured qualification for the knockout stage behind group winners Algeria. Burkina Faso only needed to avoid defeat to finish second, while Sudan progressed as one of the best third-placed teams despite recording their second loss in three matches.

The 2013 runners-up, Burkina Faso, will now head to Marrakesh to face the winners of Group F in the last 16. Group F will be decided later on Wednesday, with defending champions Ivory Coast battling Cameroon and Mozambique for top spot.

For Sudan, ranked 117th in the world, reaching this stage remains a significant achievement. Since winning the AFCON in 1970, they have managed just two victories in 19 matches across six tournament appearances. This is only their second time reaching the knockout phase since that historic triumph.

They now face a daunting challenge against Sadio Mane’s Senegal in Tangier on Saturday. Still, their progress is notable for a nation grappling with conflict since fighting erupted between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces in April 2023.

Burkina Faso dominated much of the encounter. Shakhtar Donetsk striker Traore rose to meet Stephane Aziz Ki’s chipped cross for the opener. Sudan’s missed penalty came after goalkeeper Herve Koffi, who was carrying an injury, fouled Algozoli in the box. Koffi was later replaced at half-time, and his substitute, Kilian Nikiema, was rarely tested.

Meanwhile, Algeria wrapped up the group stage with maximum points after cruising past Equatorial Guinea in Rabat. With qualification already secured and Equatorial Guinea eliminated, the match carried little at stake.

Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic rotated heavily, making nine changes ahead of their round-of-16 clash with the Democratic Republic of Congo next Tuesday. Despite this, the two-time champions struck three times in a blistering 14-minute spell in the first half.

Defender Zineddine Belaid opened the scoring with a header from a corner on 19 minutes, before Ibrahim Maza set up Fares Chaibi to double the lead. Maza then got on the scoresheet himself, heading in Algeria’s third. Emilio Nsue, last AFCON’s top scorer, grabbed a consolation goal for Equatorial Guinea.

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