RABAT — Algeria and Sudan are set to face off in a Group E encounter at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 in Rabat on Wednesday, marking their first-ever meeting at the continental finals.
While this is their maiden AFCON clash, the sides have met eight times previously, with Algeria unbeaten in open play after recording four wins and four draws.
The teams have already crossed paths twice this year. Sudan edged Algeria in the quarter-finals of the CAF African Nations Championship in August, advancing 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
They met again in December at the FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar, where a goalless draw in Al-Rayyan saw Algeria progress as group winners, while Sudan exited at the group stage.
Algeria also claimed a dominant 4-0 victory over Sudan at the 2021 Arab Cup, a tournament they went on to win.
Algeria – key stats
Algeria makes their 21st Africa Cup of Nations appearance, having first competed in 1968, and are two-time champions, lifting the trophy in 1990 on home soil and again in Egypt in 2019.
They have also finished as runners-up in 1980 and will be playing at a North African final for the seventh time.
The Desert Foxes have faced recent challenges, being eliminated at the group stage in their last two editions (2021, 2023) and failing to progress beyond the group in three of their last four tournaments.
They are currently on a six-match winless run at AFCON finals, with their last victory coming in the 2019 final against Senegal, and have endured six consecutive group-stage matches without a win.
Despite this, Algeria has a solid record in opening matches, remaining unbeaten in their last five AFCON openers, and their biggest opening-day win was a 5-1 victory over Nigeria in 1990.
They have faced East African opposition five times at AFCON, recording three wins, one draw, and one loss, scoring 10 goals and conceding three.
Riyad Mahrez is Algeria’s joint top AFCON scorer with six goals and is set to feature in his sixth finals, cafonline.com reported.
Under coach Vladimir Petkovic, who brings prior tournament experience from UEFA Euro 2020, Algeria topped their qualifying Group E with 16 goals scored and just two conceded, with Amine Gouiri finishing as top scorer in qualifying with four goals.
The team has accumulated 97 goals in AFCON history, with just three more needed to reach the century mark.
Sudan – key stats
Sudan returns to the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2021, carrying a rich historical pedigree as one of the three nations to compete in the inaugural tournament in 1957.
They hosted the first-ever AFCON match and reached the finals in 1959, 1963, and 1970, claiming their only title on home soil in 1970.
Recent form has been challenging, with just one win in their last 16 AFCON matches (D6 L9) and no victories at the 2021 edition.
The Falcons of Jediane have faced North African opposition eight times at AFCON, winning once, drawing three times, and losing four.
Their opening match record stands at two wins, four draws, and three losses, with Sudan failing to score in their last three AFCON openers; their last goal in an opening fixture came in 1976 against Morocco.
Coach Kwesi Appiah leads the squad in his third AFCON campaign, having lost only once in open play as a tournament coach.
Sudan qualified as runners-up in Group F behind Angola, scoring just four goals in qualifying, the joint lowest among the teams to reach the finals, with goals shared among four players.
The team will be aiming to translate their historical pedigree and coaching experience into a strong showing against a formidable Algerian side.
