Group E brings together a mix of former champions, long-standing contenders and consistent overachievers.
Algeria enter seeking redemption, Burkina Faso continue their pursuit of a breakthrough title, Equatorial Guinea maintain their reputation for upsetting stronger opposition, and Sudan look to build on a revived qualification campaign.
Algeria head to Morocco for their 21st Africa Cup of Nations appearance intent on reestablishing their standing after consecutive group-stage eliminations. Winners in 1990 and 2019—both under local coaches—the Fennecs remain one of the continent’s most decorated sides. Their past achievements also include a runners-up finish in 1980 and third-place results in 1984 and 1988.
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Their qualification route this cycle was authoritative. Algeria finished unbeaten at the top of a group containing Equatorial Guinea, Togo and Liberia, winning five matches and drawing once.
Under Vladimir Petković, formerly of Switzerland and Lazio, the side has regained structural stability while integrating renewed attacking impetus. Captain Riyad Mahrez and forward Mohamed Amoura headline a squad that blends experience, pace and technical balance. After delivering consistency in qualifying, Algeria will view Morocco 2025 as an opportunity to challenge for a third continental crown.
Burkina Faso enter AFCON 2025 looking to convert years of steady progress into a first-ever title. This will be their 14th tournament appearance, having previously reached the final in 2013 and the semifinals in 1998, 2017 and 2021. Their performances across the past decade have reinforced their status as one of Africa’s most reliable competitors.
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Appointed in 2024, head coach Brahima Traoré—himself a former international—has shaped a tactically organized and disciplined unit. Burkina Faso finished second to Senegal in their qualifying group, demonstrating consistency across the campaign.
Defensive leader Edmond Tapsoba, a central figure at Bayer Leverkusen, anchors the team with composure and authority. After their Round of 16 elimination to Mali in 2023, the Stallions arrive with the ambition to progress deeper into the knockout rounds.
Equatorial Guinea continue to outperform expectations despite their small population of 1.89 million. Their record at AFCON remains impressive: they have reached at least the Round of 16 in each of their four tournament appearances, including a semifinal finish as hosts in 2015.
In 2023, they delivered one of the competition’s standout group-stage displays, defeating eventual champions Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau and earning a draw with Nigeria before being eliminated by Guinea in the Round of 16.
Qualification for Morocco 2025 saw them finish second to Algeria in a group that also included Togo and Liberia. However, their preparations have been complicated by off-field upheaval, with coach Juan Micha and several players dismissed following a strike that resulted in the team’s failure to travel for a World Cup qualifier. Reestablishing cohesion will be essential if the side is to maintain its reputation as a tournament disruptor.
Sudan return to the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2021, marking their 10th participation. One of Africa’s historic football nations, Sudan finished third in the inaugural AFCON in 1957, earned runners-up positions in 1959 and 1963, and won the title on home soil in 1970. Their modern trajectory has been less consistent, but their qualification for Morocco 2025 signals renewed momentum.
Under experienced Ghanaian coach James Kwesi Appiah, the Falcons of Jediane have undergone a structured rebuild rooted in discipline and collective organisation. Their qualification campaign included victories over Ghana and Niger, enabling them to secure second place in their group behind Angola.
Forwards Mohamed Abdelrahman and Mohamed Musa contribute essential attacking stability, providing a foundation for a team intent on proving competitive against stronger opposition.
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Group E’s pivotal fixtures arrive on 28 December, with Algeria meeting Burkina Faso in Rabat and Equatorial Guinea facing Sudan in Casablanca. The results from these matches may play a determining role in shaping the group’s final standings.
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