Algeria roar into AFCON last 16 while Burkina Faso see off Sudan 

RACING ON: Algeria's Ibrahim Maza, left, celebrates with Algeria's Baghdad Bounedjah after scoring his side's third goal during the Africa Cup of Nations group E soccer match between Algeria and Sudan in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Algeria made it three wins from three in Group E of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-1 victory over Equatorial Guinea.

Algeria blew their winless opponents away with three goals in the space of 13 first-half minutes courtesy of strikes from Zineddine Belaid, Fares Chaibi and Ibrahim Maza.

Algeria did not concede a goal throughout the group stages until Emilio Nsue got Equatorial Guinea on the board with what what proved to be just a consolation in the 50th minute and was not enough to stop them from falling to three successive defeats and out of the competition.

Algeria had already sealed a safe passage through to the last 16 but a third victory ensured they finish on top of the group and a tie with DR Congo next.

Burkina Faso returned to winning ways to book their spot in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations beating Sudan 2-0.

Both teams were sat on three points coming into the contest with the winner going into the last 16 but a draw was enough for Burkina Faso with the superior goal difference.

But Burkina Faso made life all the more comfortable for themselves when Lassina Traore put them in the lead 16 minutes in.

They left it late to double their advantage and seal the result through Arsene Kouassi in the 85th minute with his first goal for his country.

PA