Algeria and Sudan, both past Africa Cup of Nations champions, are set for a high-stakes showdown in Rabat on Wednesday, a clash that could define their journey in Group E.
After back-to-back group stage exits in 2021 and 2023, the Fennecs are desperate for a strong opening in Morocco against a Sudan side still searching for their first tournament win since 2012.
Algeria’s long-awaited triumph in 2019 broke a 29-year drought, but the Desert Warriors could not have imagined that their win over Senegal would mark their last taste of victory in the tournament.
Baghdad Bounedjah’s lucky strike clinched the title in Cairo six years ago, but since then, the two-time champions have failed to win against the likes of Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Mauritania, scraping together just three points from a possible 18.
After making unwanted history with back-to-back group stage exits, Algeria is determined to break its knockout drought, beginning with Wednesday’s crucial test against Sudan.
The Fennecs arrive at their 21st AFCON brimming with confidence, unbeaten in qualifying with five wins and a draw, and boasting 16 goals—second only to Morocco and tied with South Africa.
Their scoring prowess is no accident: Algeria struck 24 times in World Cup qualifying, just one behind Ivory Coast, with Mohamed El Amine Amoura leading all African scorers in that stretch.
Given their impressive form in both AFCON and World Cup qualifiers, another early exit for Vladimir Petkovic’s side would be a bitter pill to swallow.
Eager to avoid another early stumble, Algeria faces a fired-up Sudanese squad, whose return to the tournament comes amid the somber backdrop of conflict at home.
Forced to play their home qualifiers away from Sudan, the war-torn nation’s team has already overcome immense obstacles just to reach Morocco.
Managed by Ghanaian James Kwesi Appiah, the Falcons of Jediane twice avoided losing against the Black Stars, playing out a goalless encounter in Accra before defeating the four-time African champions 2-0 in the reWith a balanced record of two wins, two draws, and two losses, Sudan edged out Niger by a single point to qualify, while Ghana endured a winless campaign.e draws and three losses.
Returning to the Cup of Nations after missing the last edition, Appiah’s squad is determined to avoid a repeat of their winless 2021 campaign, where they fell to Nigeria and Egypt in a group packed with champions.
Sudan, winless since their shock 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso in 2012, enter Wednesday’s match keenly aware of their four-game drought and eager to spring another surprise.
