Algeria and Burkina Faso will put their perfect starts in Group E on the line when they meet in their second match of the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations. Victory for either side at the Moulay Hassan Stadium would be enough to secure qualification for the Round of 16.
Both teams impressed in their opening fixtures and now have the opportunity to seal early progression, raising the stakes for what has become a familiar AFCON matchup in recent years.
This will be the fourth meeting between Algeria and Burkina Faso at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, following previous group-stage encounters in 1996, 1998, and at the 2023 tournament. Notably, all of their AFCON meetings have come in the group phase, and this is the second time they are facing each other at successive editions, after clashes in 1996 and 1998.
The head-to-head record at AFCON is evenly balanced. Across their three previous meetings, each side has claimed one win, with one match ending in a draw, and both teams have scored in all three encounters.
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Their first AFCON meeting came in Group B on 24 January 1996, when Algeria edged a 2–1 win in their final group match. Khaled Lounici struck in the second minute before Billel Dziri doubled the lead in the 75th, with Boureima Zongo scoring a late consolation for Burkina Faso.
Two years later, at the 1998 finals, the teams met again after both had lost their opening matches. Hosts Burkina Faso emerged 2–1 winners, with Kassoum Ouédraogo converting a 75th-minute penalty and Seydou Traoré scoring soon after. Algeria responded late through a Moussa Saïb spot-kick.
Their most recent AFCON encounter, at the 2023 finals, produced a dramatic 2–2 draw. Burkina Faso led twice through Mohamed Konaté and a Bertrand Traoré penalty, but Baghdad Bounedjah struck both of Algeria’s goals, including a stoppage-time equaliser.
Overall, this will be the 20th meeting between the sides in all competitions. Algeria and Burkina Faso have each won six of the previous 19 matches, with seven draws, and the recent trend points towards another tight contest. The last three meetings have all ended level, while Algeria have scored in each of their last seven games against Burkina Faso, who themselves have found the net in the last three meetings,setting the scene for another closely fought and potentially high-scoring encounter.
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