AFCON 2025 Preview: Group E

AFCON 2025 Preview: Group E

The Algeria national team during a friendly match against Saudi Arabia. Photo: Algerian Football Federation

AFCON 2025 Preview: Group E

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is upon us with kickoff in Morocco set for December 21! Pan-Africa Football is previewing each group and our next preview continues with Group E, where Algeria are the favorites in a group that also includes Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan. Read about the key players to watch on each team below:

 

Algeria

 

Introduction

 

Ever since winning their second AFCON in 2019, this tournament has been a source of dismay for supporters of the North African giants. Calamitous group stage exits arrived at the last two editions, each time after Les Verts were considered one of the favorites to win the competition due to their 2019 success and the high quality of talent in the squad.

Coach Vladimir Petkovic will attempt to navigate through the doubt created by recent finishes, and Algeria must be considered one of the candidates to win the competition now that it has returned to a North African host. With political and sporting rivals Morocco hosting, star Riyad Mahrez and his teammates have a perfect stage to pacify their passionate supporters with a loud statement this time around.

 

AFCON Record

 

Appearances20
Best FinishChampions (1990, 2019)
Last Appearance2023- Group Stage

 

Key Players

 

Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli [KSA])

 

The man who was instrumental in one of sport’s modern miracles, the English Premier League title won by Leicester City against all odds in the 2015-16 season, Mahrez has curiously been lacking at the AFCON. After starring in the 2019 AFCON conquest with 3 goals during the tournament, he could not manage a single goal in six appearances during the 2021 and 2023 failures. Now 34-years-old, Mahrez does not have much left to prove in his career after his heroics for club and country but will be eager to prove he still has what it takes to win a tournament with Algeria.

 

Aïssa Mandi (Lille [FRA])

 

He may be 34-years-old heading into this tournament, but the central defender is enjoying his best season in years with French contenders LOSC Lille. A vocal player who has emerged as a crucial leader in the Algerian defense, Mandi is another player who will be eager to send a message after performing poorly during Algeria’s poor outings at the 2021 and 2023 AFCON tournaments. The French-born player has well over a century of appearances for Algeria since debuting in 2014.

 

Mohamed Amoura (Wolfsburg [GER])

 

After being an occasional contributor who showed promise in his early appearances with Algeria, Amoura exploded into a key player during 2026 World Cup qualifying where he scored ten goals in ten matches for Les Fennecs. His rise with Algeria has coincided with his ascension into a serious force in European club football, where he starred with Belgian club Royal Union Saint-Gilloise before earning a big money move to German Bundesliga club Wolfsburg where he continues to thrive. The lack of a reliable goal scorer was a substantial problem for Algeria in previous AFCON tournaments, but Amoura could be the player who turns his nation back into a serious contender this time. The 25-year-old is not only a goal scorer but also can shine in a wider position on the forward line with the ability to set up teammates.

 

X-Factor

 

Ismaël Bennacer (Dinamo Zagreb [HRV])

 

The deep-lying midfielder endured a couple of difficult AFCON tournaments in 2021 and 2023 after being an important player in Algeria’s continental conquest in 2019. However, Bennacer is a remarkably solid player in his club career with top European clubs and a loan move this season to Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb has allowed him to come into this tournament in strong form. After some injury difficulties over the last two seasons, Bennacer is earning his way back into the team and continues to show signs of being the orchestrator and conductor that the Algerian midfield needs.

 

Burkina Faso

 

Introduction

The Stallions are a feared team in African competition even if they have yet to make their debut at the finals of a World Cup. The West African nation has reached the semifinals in three of their last five appearances at the AFCON, beginning with a runner-up finish at the 2013 edition that announced their potential to all of Africa. 

While this team will be expecting to progress from the group stage, the issue that can arise with Burkina Faso is a lack of depth that can come back to haunt them as the tournament progresses. However, some timely dual national recruits and a reliable defense combined with the playmaking ability of attacking stars Bertrand Traoré and Dango Ouattara make this team a consistently solid force in African competitions.

 

AFCON Record

 

Appearances13
Best FinishRunners-up (2013)
Last Appearance2023- Round of 16

 

Key Players

 

Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen [GER])

 

Tapsoba is settling more and more into a leadership role with Burkina Faso, something that was not quite so natural for him earlier in his career when he was a fast-rising talent. The Bayer Leverkusen central defender is remarkably calm and measured in his actions with composure on the ball and deceptive physical abilities. Tapsoba, along with goalkeeper Herve Koffi and right back Issa Kabore, form the defensive foundation of the Burkinabe team.

 

Bertrand Traoré (Sunderland [ENG])

 

A mercurial playmaker who always looks confident and casual on the ball, Traoré struggled for regular playing time at English side Aston Villa ahead of the last two AFCON tournaments but is now enjoying stability in his club career. Remarkably, the now 30-year-old made his debut for the Stallions at the age of 15 after leading Burkina Faso to win the 2011 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (then known as the U-17 African Championship). While young attacking talents have emerged for the Stallions, the Bobo-Dioulasso native is the undisputed leader of the Burkinabe attack with his magical left foot and creativity.

 

Dango Ouattara (Bournemouth [ENG])

 

After showing his potential as a teenager at the 2021 AFCON, there was much anticipation for Ouattara ahead of the 2023 edition but injuries limited his impact in Ivory Coast. A metoric rise in his club career saw the now 23-year-old progress from Burkinabe club Majestic FC to the English Premier League over a three-year span. Now at Brentford following a big money transfer, Ouattara is now healthy and will make the Burkinabe attack particularly dangerous while operating on the opposite flank from Traoré.

 

X-Factor

 

Mohamed Zougrana (MC Alger [ALG])

 

One of several Ivorian born players on the Burkina Faso team due to the close relationship and links between the neighbors, Zougrana elected to represent the Stallions and made an instant impact with two goals during their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. A great carrier of the ball in the center of the midfield who also fulfills his defensive duties well, Zougrana is potentially the perfect option to give Burkina Faso what they have long sought: A reliable central midfielder who can link the midfield to the team’s attacking stars.

 

Equatorial Guinea

 

 

Introduction

 

Well established by this point as a team to take seriously in African football, the team nicknamed “Nzalang Nacional” (National Thunder) shocked observers at the 2023 AFCON by thrashing hosts and eventual champions Ivory Coast 4-1 in the group stage. Unfortunately, the team has struggled with controversy in recent months with pay disputes as well as complaints from players and coaches about poor preparation during their failed 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

It appears that clashes between the team and administration have been resolved ahead of the AFCON, once again making Equatorial Guinea a very capable team. After reaching the knockout stages at the last two AFCON’s, they are now a proven force and have a good opportunity to continue their success at this competition.

 

AFCON Record

 

Appearances4
Best FinishFourth Place (2015)
Last Appearance2023- Round of 16

Key Players

 

Emilio Nsue (CF Intercity [ESP])

 

The country’s all-time leading scorer was at the center of controversy following his goal scoring heroics at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, where he won the competition’s Golden Boot. Initially banned by FIFA from representing Nzalang due to falsified documents, a moment that cost the nation any chance of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, the forward from Mallorca is back and ready to don the captain’s armband. Known in Spain as a versatile player, with Equatorial Guinea he is utilized as the team’s main goal threat.

 

Pedro Obiang (Monza [ITA])

 

A powerful central midfielder with strong technical ability who has played at the highest levels in Italy and England. Obiang did not appear with Equatorial Guinea during the 2021 and 2023 AFCON’s due to a serious bronchopulmonary illness that left him out of action for well over a year. Now healthy and in good form with Italian top flight side Monza, Obiang will now be able to represent the nation in a major tournament for the first time in Morocco at the age of 33.

 

Iban Salvador Edu (Wisla Plock [POL])

 

A fiery and fierce midfielder/forward who is currently based in Poland, the Spanish-born player has always saved the best moments of his career for the AFCON. Iban Edu elected to represent Equatorial Guinea as a teenager at the 2015 AFCON and has been an essential player ever since with the ability to produce spectacular goals and moments of brilliance. He and Nsue form the dynamic attacking duo who know this stage well and have the ability to influence results.

 

X-Factor

 

Jesús Owono (FC Andorra [ESP])

 

The goalkeeper continues to suffer from a lack of regular playing time in Spanish club football. However, Owono was arguably the best goalkeeper at the 2023 AFCON and the 24-year-old has a history of rising to the occasion on the big stage. The Bata native, who debuted with the Nzalang soon after his 18th birthday, is ultimately the player whose performances will make the biggest difference between success and failure in Morocco with his spectacular reflexes.

 

Sudan

 

Introduction

 

The Falcons were the darlings of African football in 2024 and early 2025 after qualifying for the upcoming AFCON and making a serious push for a first-ever World Cup qualification despite the ongoing war in Sudan. However, James Kwesi Appiah’s side has endured a difficult second half of 2025 and momentum is at its lowest after a difficult stretch of results.

This team remains a competitive side whose strongest characteristics are team chemistry and experience. Star attacker Mohamed Abdelrahman is back to full strength after his influence was dearly missed as Sudan fell out of contention in 2026 World Cup qualifying. Sudan remains a solid team and with a decent draw in Morocco, this team will be motivated and determined to reach the AFCON knockout stage for the first time since 2012.

 

AFCON Record

 

Appearances9
Best FinishChampions (1970)
Last Appearance2021- Group Stage

 

Key Players

 

Mohamed Abdelrahman (Al Hilal SC [SDN])

 

The Al Hilal Omdurman legend is the undisputed star of this team as well as the main leader among a squad that contains many veterans. After a fantastic 2024 and early 2025 where he led Al Hilal and Sudan to impressive results, an extended spell of injuries was inevitable due to the large amount of matches he played for club and country. The main goal scoring option as well as perhaps the best creator in the team, Abdelrahman has recovered from his injury spell and his performances will be instrumental for the Falcons in Morocco.

 

Abdel Raouf (Al Hilal [SDN])

 

Players from Sudanese club champions Al Hilal form the core of the Sudan national team and Abdel Raouf is another experienced player who is composed on the ball. The central midfielder stepped up in the Abdelrahman’s absence to be the creative force for Sudan at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) played in August earlier this year. A technical and quick-thinking player who likes to support his teammates in attacking areas, Raouf will attempt to set up Sudan’s attackers with ambitious passes from the midfield.

 

Walieldin Khidir (Al Hilal SC [SDN])

 

Another experienced member of the group, Khidir is a versatile option who usually lines up in the midfield where he has more defensive responsibilities with Sudan. An efficient passer who can perform the defensive duties required against more difficult opposition, Khidir is another member of Al Hilal who has well over 60 appearances for Sudan and impressed at their last AFCON appearance at the 2021 edition.

 

X-Factor

 

Yaser Awad (Al Hilal SC [SDN])

 

The young right back broke into the Al Hilal eleven last season, proving himself as a player to watch despite competing with the Sudanese champions’ large contingent of foreign players. At 20 years of age, Awad is an exciting prospect who likes to attack down the flanks and could give this Sudanese team a needed injection of youth and energy on the biggest stage in African football. Awad is one of the young players to watch in this tournament after establishing himself as a regular for Sudan during 2026 World Cup qualifying, the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) a few months ago for domestic-based players and also the just completed 2025 FIFA Arab Cup.

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AFCON 2025 Preview
Algeria
Burkina Faso
Equatorial Guinea
Sudan

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