2025 AFCON Group E Match Preview: Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria

Equatorial Guinea will meet group leaders Algeria on Wednesday in the Group E finale of the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, with both teams approaching the contest from very different competitive positions.

With the Desert Warriors already assured of progression to the round of 16, the stakes are considerably higher for the Nzalang Nacional, who require a positive result and favourable circumstances elsewhere to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Equatorial Guinea enter their final group match after a difficult campaign in Morocco, having struggled to turn promising spells into results, a pattern that was evident on 24 December when a late Marvin Anieboh goal against Burkina Faso briefly put them ahead before two stoppage-time concessions condemned them to a 2-1 defeat despite playing much of the second half with a numerical advantage.

The setback was compounded on Sunday, when they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Sudan at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca, where an unfortunate second-half own goal by defender Saul Coco proved decisive.

Those consecutive losses have left Equatorial Guinea rooted to the bottom of Group E with zero points, meaning their chances of advancing as either direct qualifiers or one of the best third-placed teams now hinge on defeating Algeria and improving an inferior goal difference.

In a broader historical context, Equatorial Guinea remain a modest force at the Africa Cup of Nations, with their standout achievement coming in 2015 when they reached the semi-finals as tournament hosts and finished fourth.

Recent form outside the tournament further highlights their inconsistency, as defeats to Burkina Faso and Sudan were followed by a 2-0 loss to Madagascar in November and then a narrow 1-0 friendly win over Kenya three days later, a sequence that mirrored mixed World Cup qualifying results earlier in the year including a 1-1 draw with Liberia, a heavy 3-0 away defeat to Malawi in October, and a narrow 1-0 loss to Tunisia in September.

Across their last six competitive matches, Equatorial Guinea have scored only three goals while conceding seven, underlining the attacking efficiency they must significantly improve to trouble Algeria.

Historically, meetings between the two nations have been limited, with Equatorial Guinea famously beating Algeria during the 2021 AFCON group stage before suffering a 2-0 defeat in Belgaid and earning a 0-0 draw in Bata during 2025 AFCON qualifying in November 2024.

Algeria arrive for the Group E finale as confirmed qualifiers and group favourites, having already secured their place in the round of 16 with two wins from two matches.

Their campaign opened emphatically with a 3-0 victory over Sudan, with Riyad Mahrez scoring twice and Ibrahim Maza adding a third to set an authoritative tone, before qualification was sealed by a hard-fought 1-0 win over Burkina Faso on Sunday courtesy of a Mahrez penalty that lifted Algeria to six points and removed any pressure from the final group fixture.

Under head coach Vladimir Petkovic, Algeria have displayed tactical discipline and flexibility, with the narrow Burkina Faso victory highlighting their capacity to manage games and secure results when fluid attacking play is limited.

Mahrez remains central to Algeria’s ambitions, extending his record as the nation’s all-time leading AFCON scorer with his ninth tournament goal while also topping the scoring charts at the competition so far.

Support from key figures such as Ismael Bennacer in midfield, Rayan Ait-Nouri on the flank, and Luca Zidane in goal has given Algeria a balanced and experienced core capable of controlling matches.

Their confidence entering the tournament was built on strong pre-AFCON results, including a 2-0 Arab Cup win over Saudi Arabia and a 3-1 friendly victory against Zimbabwe, momentum that was reinforced by solid World Cup qualifying performances as Algeria beat Uganda 2-1 in October and recorded a dominant 3-0 win over Somalia earlier the same month.

Equatorial Guinea possible starting lineup:

Owono; Akapo, Orozco, Coco, Anieboh; Mascarell, Ganet, Machin; Salvador, Miranda, Nsue

Algeria possible starting lineup:

Mandrea; Belghali, Mandi, Bensebaini, Ait-Nouri; Zerrouki, Boulbina, Chaibi; Moussa, Amoura, Bounedjah