Algeria booked their place in the Africa Cup of Nations last 16 as Group E winners with a narrow 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
The decisive moment came in the 23rd minute when captain Riyad Mahrez calmly converted a penalty. The spot kick was awarded after Rayan Aït-Nouri was brought down in the area by Ismahila Ouedraogo, and Mahrez made no mistake to give the Fennecs a lead they would not relinquish.
The result means Algeria have taken maximum points from their first two matches, ensuring top spot in the group with a game to spare.
In the group’s other match, Sudan recovered from their opening defeat to Algeria by edging Equatorial Guinea 1-0. The breakthrough arrived in the 74th minute when defender Saúl Coco inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, handing Sudan a vital win.
Algeria will now face the runner-up from Group D in the last 16, with Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo or Benin all possible opponents. That knockout tie is scheduled for January 6 in Rabat, and the winner could go on to meet Nigeria in the quarterfinals in Marrakesh on January 10.
The 2019 champions will round off their Group E campaign against Equatorial Guinea on New Year’s Eve, while Sudan take on Burkina Faso in the final set of group fixtures.
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