Algeria and Sudan to meet for the first time at TotalEnergies CAF AFCON finals on Wednesday

Algeria and Sudan kick off their Group E TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 campaign on Wednesday in what promises to be an explosive clash at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat at 16h00 local time.

This fixture marks the first-ever meeting between the two nations at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals, though it will be their ninth encounter overall. Algeria remain unbeaten against Sudan in open play, having recorded four wins and four draws across previous meetings.

The teams have already crossed paths twice in 2024. In August, Sudan held Algeria to a 1-1 draw in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship before advancing 4-1 on penalties. They met again on 3 December at the FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar, playing out a goalless draw in Al Rayyan. 

Algeria also hold fond memories from a 4-0 win over Sudan at the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup, a tournament they ultimately lifted, while Sudan were eliminated in the group phase.

Two-time continental champions, Algeria are making their 21st appearance at the AFCON finals, having first competed in 1968. Champions on home soil in 1990 and again in Egypt in 2019, the Desert Foxes arrive in Morocco aiming to rediscover past glories after a difficult recent period.

Algeria have been eliminated at the group stage in each of their last two appearances (2021 and 2023) and are currently on a six-match winless run at AFCON finals (D3 L3). Their last victory at the tournament came in the 2019 final against Senegal.

Despite those struggles, Algeria have historically started tournaments strongly. They are unbeaten in their last five AFCON opening matches (W2 D3), with their most recent opening defeat dating back to 2013 against Tunisia. Their biggest opening-match victory remains the famous 5-1 win over Nigeria in 1990.

Sudan on the other hand return to the finals for the first time since 2021 and are one of the competition’s founding nations, having competed in the inaugural tournament in 1957 as hosts. They won their only AFCON title in 1970, also on home soil.

However, recent tournament history has been challenging. Sudan have won just one of their last 16 AFCON matches (D6 L9), with their only victory since 1972 coming against Burkina Faso in 2012. 

WHAT WAS SAID: 

Vladimir Petkovic - Algeria Coach 

“I think we are here and happy with everything we have done so far. The team is doing well and, fortunately, we have recovered some players. We did, however, have to make a change due to injury. The team has worked very well, worked a lot, and I am confident that tomorrow we will be ready. Tomorrow, we will give everything to start this competition in the best possible way”

Riyad Mahrez - Algeria Player

“The mindset is good. We are not thinking about what happened before; we are focused on tomorrow, on our first game, to deliver a solid performance. A lot is expected of Algeria and we need to live up to the great football nation that everyone knows us to be” 

Kwesi Appiah – Sudan Coach 

“We all know that this tournament is important to Sudanese people. We are here to do our best to make them proud and this will only happen if we put our best foot forward and compete. Not only is this an important tournament for Sudan but all African nations want to win it so it makes it one of the most difficult competitions to compete”  

Bhakit Khamis – Sudan Player 

“Us being here at this great continental tournament is important for us as Sudanese. We are happy and honoured to be here. Our presence here is important but that alone is not enough. We are here to make our nation proud and that starts immediately tomorrow when we face a strong side like Algeria.  We managed to participate in the CHAN and AFCON during a tough period being faced by our country and that is why we need to do well here in this tournament” 

KEY STATISTIC:

This will be the first AFCON meeting between the sides, though it is their ninth encounter overall. Algeria are unbeaten in open play, with four wins and four draws recorded between the nations.