Algeria and Equatorial Guinea bring their Group E campaigns at the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 to a close today when they meet by 5 pm.
The stakes differ sharply for the two sides. Equatorial Guinea, eliminated at the group stage for the first time in their AFCON history, are playing for pride and a positive farewell after a disappointing tournament. Algeria, meanwhile, have already wrapped up top spot in the group and confirmed their place in the Round of 16, ending a run of successive early exits from the competition.
Despite their contrasting fortunes, history suggests this fixture is rarely straightforward. The sides last met at the AFCON finals in 2021, when Equatorial Guinea stunned the then defending champions. Esteban’s 70th-minute strike sealed a famous 1–0 victory, a result that helped the Nzalang Nacional finish runners-up in Group E while Algeria crashed out bottom of the group.
More recently, the teams were paired together again during qualification for Morocco 2025. Algeria claimed a 2–0 home win in September 2024, with Houssem Aouar breaking the deadlock before Amine Gouiri added a late second, while the return meeting in Malabo two months later ended in a goalless draw.
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Both nations progressed comfortably from their qualifying group ahead of Togo and Liberia, with Algeria winning five of their six matches, their only dropped points coming against Equatorial Guinea.
While Algeria may have one eye on the knockout phase, Equatorial Guinea will be determined to remind the continental heavyweights of their capacity for an upset, hoping to close their campaign with a performance that restores pride and belief.
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