Riyad Mahrez’s first-half penalty secured Algeria’s passage to the Africa Cup of Nations knockout stages with a match to spare, as the Desert Foxes ground out a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso at the Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
The captain’s 23rd-minute spot-kick proved decisive in a bruising encounter that saw both sides reduced to limited clear-cut chances. The result lifts Algeria to six points from two matches, guaranteeing their progression to the last 16 regardless of their final group fixture against Equatorial Guinea. For Burkina Faso, the defeat leaves them on three points, knowing they must overcome Sudan in their concluding match to secure qualification.
Algeria, buoyed by their impressive 3-0 opening victory over Sudan in which Mahrez scored twice, started as favourites but found the Stallions a considerably sterner proposition. Burkina Faso emerged as the better side during the opening exchanges, pressing high and disrupting Algeria’s rhythm with their physicality and work rate.
The visitors’ early dominance nearly brought reward in the 10th minute when Gustavo Sangare went down inside the Algeria penalty area under challenge. The Aston Villa midfielder appealed vehemently for a spot-kick, but South African referee Victor Gomes was unmoved, instead brandishing a yellow card for simulation. The decision proved controversial, with Burkina Faso’s coaching staff visibly frustrated on the touchline.
Algeria suffered an early setback when left-back Jaouen Hadjam was forced off with an injury in the 19th minute, replaced by Baghdad Bounedjah. The substitution disrupted the Desert Foxes’ defensive structure, though it would ultimately have little bearing on the outcome.
The breakthrough arrived in the 23rd minute when Algeria were awarded a penalty following a VAR review. Manchester City loanee Rayan Ait-Nouri was bundled over inside the Burkina Faso penalty area, with referee Gomes adjudging the challenge to be a foul after consulting the pitchside monitor. Mahrez, Algeria’s most decorated player and their talisman, stepped up with characteristic confidence and made no mistake, sending his effort into the net to give the Desert Foxes the advantage.
The goal represented Mahrez’s third of the tournament across just two matches, extending his impressive scoring record at AFCON and moving him closer to Islam Slimani’s all-time national record of 45 goals. The former Manchester City winger now has 37 international strikes to his name, cementing his status as one of Algeria’s greatest-ever forwards.
Burkina Faso responded with renewed determination, refusing to be cowed by the setback. The Stallions enjoyed sustained spells of possession and tested Algeria’s defensive resolve, though clear-cut chances remained elusive against a well-drilled backline marshalled by Aissa Mandi and Ramy Bensebaini.
The second half proved a tense affair, with Burkina Faso pressing for an equaliser whilst Algeria sought to protect their slender advantage. The visitors’ attacking efforts grew increasingly desperate as time wore on, with Bertrand Traore and Dango Ouattara attempting to unlock the Desert Foxes’ defence without success.
Algeria came closest to extending their lead in the 76th minute when a cross was played into the Burkina Faso penalty area, finding an unmarked Hichem Boudaoui. However, the midfielder sent his header well wide of the left post, spurning a golden opportunity to kill off the contest.
As the match entered its final stages, Burkina Faso threw caution to the wind, committing bodies forward in search of a vital equaliser. The pressure nearly told in the 80th minute when Georgi Minoungou’s well-taken shot beat goalkeeper Luca Zidane but sailed just over the crossbar, much to the relief of the Algerian bench.
The Stallions continued to lay siege to Algeria’s penalty area during the closing minutes. In the 87th minute, Lassina Traore rose to meet a cross, but his header went straight into the arms of Zidane, who gathered comfortably. The French-born goalkeeper, making only his second appearance for Algeria—the country of his grandfather—had been given his opportunity due to a knee injury to first-choice shot-stopper Moustapha Zeghba.
Deep into stoppage time, Burkina Faso fashioned one final chance when Cyriaque Irie found space inside the Algeria penalty area. However, his header lacked power and direction, allowing Zidane to make a routine save and preserve Algeria’s clean sheet.
The final whistle confirmed Algeria’s progression to the knockout stages, sparking celebrations among the Desert Foxes’ players and coaching staff. Coach Vladimir Petkovic will be pleased with his side’s defensive resilience, though he will be aware that attacking improvements are required if Algeria are to mount a serious challenge for the title.
For Burkina Faso, the defeat represents a setback but not a fatal blow to their qualification hopes. The Stallions remain on three points alongside Sudan, meaning victory in their final group match will guarantee progression to the last 16. Coach Brama Traore will need to rally his troops quickly, knowing that their AFCON journey now depends entirely on defeating the Falcons of Jediane on 31 December.
Algeria’s qualification with a game to spare allows Petkovic the luxury of potentially rotating his squad for their final group encounter against Equatorial Guinea, giving fringe players an opportunity to stake their claim whilst resting key men ahead of the knockout stages.
