Algeria seek redemption after series of Afcon first round exits

RABAT

Algeria’s coach, Vladimir Petkovic, says the team must “accept responsibility” and rebuild “with courage and unity”, as the Desert Foxes attempt to repair their reputation following two of the most damaging Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) campaigns in their history.

Algeria arrived at the 2025 tournament in Morocco haunted by the memory of back-to-back first-round exits in 2022 and 2024 — a dramatic fall for a team that lifted the trophy in 2019 and were widely tipped to dominate African football for years.

Those early exits were not just failures; they were humiliations.

Algeria failed to win a single match at either edition of Afcon, and losses to Equatorial Guinea and then Mauritania — the latter having never previously won a tournament match — prompted deep introspection and the dismissal of title-winning coach Djamel Belmadi. Petkovic, appointed after a seven-year spell with Switzerland, has since steadied the team, guiding them to 15 wins in 20 matches and securing qualification for both 2025 Afcon, and the 2026 World Cup.

They play Sudan tonight in Group ‘E’ match Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan in Rabat from 6pm (Kenyan time). The match will be preceded by another Group ‘E’ encounter between Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea in Casablanca from 3.30pm.

But former Lazio coach Petkovic insists he will not be drawn into bold declarations.

“Our first goal will be to qualify for the second round, then we shall see,” he told Algerian media, while acknowledging the expectations that follow his side. “We are favourites in our group, and we must accept that responsibility.”

Despite their recent record, Algeria have again been placed among the tournament’s potential champions. Petkovic, however, rejects talk of a third continental title. “I never promise anything,” he said firmly — a reminder that Algeria’s revival is still a work in progress. ‘Unity is crucial’

Petkovic said Algeria’s next step depends not only on tactics or talent, but on togetherness.

“What I can assure Algerians is that the team will wear the national team jersey with pride and be courageous,” he said. “Unity is crucial. We must have the support of the entire nation. If we are divided, achieving success will be difficult.”

Veteran captain Riyad Mahrez echoed the caution, noting that Algeria’s recent Afcon trauma still weighs heavily.

“We have to be realistic given what happened to us in the last two Afcon tournaments. We dare not fail again,” said the 34-year-old Al Ahli winger.

Mahrez also pushed back against suggestions that Algeria are among the front-runners.

“Some observers are including us among the title favourites, but that means nothing. Morocco have to be favourites as they will be playing on home soil, backed by huge, partisan crowds.”

Algeria will play all their group matches in Rabat, where they face Sudan tonight, followed by meetings against Burkina Faso, and Equatorial Guinea.

Meanwhile, Bertrand Traoré will spearhead Burkina Faso’s bid for the title today when they come up against Equatorial Guinea in Group ‘E’ from 3.30pm today.

 At 30, Traoré is set to appear at a sixth Afcon finals — a rare achievement that underlines both his longevity and importance to the Stallions. His international journey began as a teenager and has since evolved into one of leadership and responsibility at the highest level of African football.

Traoré’s Afcon story started in 2012 when, aged just 16, he made his tournament debut as a substitute in Burkina Faso’s final group match after the team had already been eliminated. He was absent from the 2013 Afcon — a tournament that remains the most successful in the country’s continental history. Burkina Faso reached the final for the first time, losing narrowly to Nigeria, while his elder brother Alain Traoré played a central role, scoring three goals during the campaign.

Even before his Afcon debut, Bertrand Traoré had already broken into the senior national team. He made his debut aged 15 in a friendly against Equatorial Guinea in September 2011, having already represented Burkina Faso at youth level, including at the 2009 Fifa Under-17 World Cup. He also helped his country win the 2011 African Under-17 Championship. Traoré’s rise at senior level began unusually early. He made his debut for the Burkina Faso national team aged just 15, appearing in a friendly against Equatorial Guinea in September 2011 — a sign of the high expectations placed on him from the outset. 

His first senior international goal came in August 2013, when he opened the scoring in a 2–1 friendly victory away to Morocco, a symbolic moment given the country will host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Traoré went on to establish himself as a regular presence at the continental finals. He featured at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, playing in all three group matches, before enjoying his most memorable tournament in 2017.

At that edition, Burkina Faso finished third, with Traoré scoring in a decisive 2–0 win over Guinea-Bissau that secured qualification for the quarter-finals and underlined his growing influence within the side.

Burkina Faso have been drawn in Group E and will open their campaign against Equatorial Guinea in Casablanca today, before further matches against Algeria and Sudan.

Head coach Brama Traoré has retained 15 players from the squad that exited in the round of 16 at the 2023 finals in Ivory Coast, as the Stallions look to combine experience with ambition.

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