The Greens scored a hat-trick against Equatorial Guinea, in their third match for the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.
The Desert Warriors achieved full marks, strengthening their lead in the fifth group.
The Burkina Faso national team accompanied Algeria to the quarter-finals after its victory over Sudan and coming in second place.
The Jedi Falcons also reserved their place in the first knockout round, despite losing in two matches.
Coach changes
Coach Vladimir Petkovic made a total of nine changes to the starting lineup compared to the match in Burkina Faso.
The Bosnian rested the most prominent pillars of the team, such as Issa Mandi, Rami Ben Sabaini, Riyad Mahrez and Ismail Ben Nasser, who participated in the first and second rounds.
The coach kept only the duo Rayan Ait Nouri and Ibrahim Mazza.
Dutch midfielder Twente, Ramez Zerrougui, received the captain’s armband from Riyad Mahrez.
Petkovic preferred to insert French club Cannes goalkeeper, Anthony Mandria, in place of Ittihad Al-Capital club goalkeeper, Osama Ben Bout, to replace the main player, Luca Zidane.
Summary of the first half
The national team controlled the match from the time Burundian referee Pacific Ndabihawinimana blew the opening whistle.
Mazza’s teammates denied the opponent the ball, and they also created four good scoring chances, in which they were able to score three times.
Defender Zinedine Belaid rose high when Anis Hadj Moussa executed a corner kick, shooting a header past goalkeeper Jesus Auno in the 19th minute.
Zinedine Belaid opens the scoring for the Algerian national team with a powerful header against Equatorial Guinea! ⚽
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📱 https://t.co/alkogGtHdW#Africa_Cup of Nations#AFCON2025 | #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/ooPkYtHG87— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) December 31, 2025
Mazza watched his teammate Scheibe run behind the defenders’ backs, providing him with an accurate pass, which the Eintracht Frankfurt player handled well by dribbling two defenders and shooting a powerful ball in the 25th minute.
Which one is more beautiful in your opinion? 🤔⚽
The decisive pass from Ibrahim Maza or the goal from Fares Chaybi?
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📱 https://t.co/alkogGtHdW#Africa_Cup of Nations#AFCON2025 | #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/9XgUMI9tf1— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) December 31, 2025
Mazza and Hajj Moussa continued their brilliance despite the two-goal lead, as the Dutch Feyenoord striker raised a high ball and the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker received a header that hit the Equatorial Guinea defender and entered the net in the 32nd minute.
Moncef’s decision missed the opportunity to score the fourth, after he chose to shoot strongly despite being face to face with goalkeeper Owono before the end of the first half.
Ibrahim Maza adds the third goal for the Desert Warriors 🇩🇿
Complete Algerian control at the end of the first half!
Equatorial Guinea 0️⃣ – 3️⃣ Algeria
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📱 https://t.co/alkogGtHdW#Africa_Cup of Nations#AFCON2025 | #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/VSBvt0QNN0— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) December 31, 2025
Summary of the second half
Coach Petkovic brought in full-backs Mehdi Dorval and Youssef Atal in place of Rayan Ait Nouri and Rafik Belghali, respectively, at the start of the second half.
Emilio Ensoy deceived the Greens’ defense early, reducing the difference with a powerful shot from outside the penalty area in the 50th minute.
The performance of the national elements declined significantly in the second half, and they were limited to threatening Equatorial Guinea’s goal once.
The crossbar prevented Fares Shaybi from scoring his second personal goal, in a repeat of his first goal.
The second stage witnessed Tugay leaving the field due to injury, and the coach also brought in Adam Zarqan and Ilan in place of Ibrahim Mazza and Fares Shaybi.
A goal fueled by pride. Emilio Nsue. ❤️🇬🇶#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/QU2d4uLQ7v
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 31, 2025
#Greens #finish #group #stage #full #marks
#oussama_boulegheb #elhiwardz #alakhibariat.xyz #elhiwar #elhiwar-en
