Group E at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) features two-time champions Algeria as clear favourites. They will be up against 1970 winners Sudan, 2013 finalists Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea, who reached the round-of-16 at the 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast.
Afrosport previews the group, past achievements, and their squad list heading into the competition.
ALGERIA
Nickname: The Fennec Foxes
AFCON History
The North African giants have featured in the AFCON finals 20 times since making their debut in 1968. Their most recent triumph in 2019 was particularly dominant, as Algeria won all their matches, capped by a 1-0 victory over Senegal in the final.
AFCON Record
Algeria are two-time Africa Cup of Nations champions, lifting the trophy in 1990 and 2019. They finished as runners-up in 1980 and claimed bronze medals in 1984 and 1988, while also ending the tournament in fourth place on two occasions (1982 and 2010).
Star Players: Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli Jeddah), Rayan Ait-Nouri (Manchester City)
Algeria Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Oussama Benbot (USM Alger), Luca Zidane (Granada), Anthony Mandrea (Caen)
Defenders: Rayan Ait-Nouri Manchester City), Youcef Atal (Al Sadd), Zineddine Belaid (JS Kabylie), Rafik Belghani (Hellas Verona), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund), Samir Chergui (Paris FC), Mehdi Dorval (Bari), Jaouen Hadjam (Young Boys Bern), Aissa ndi (Lille), Mohamed Amine Tougai (Esperance)
Midfielders: Houssem Aouar (Al Ittihad), Ismael Bennacer (Dinamo Zagreb), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen), Ramiz Zerrouki (Twente), Adem Zorgane (Union Saint-Gilloise)
Forwards: Mohamed Amoura (Werder Bremen), Monsef Bakrar (Dinamo Zagreb), Redouane Berkane (Al Wakrah), Adil Boulbina (Al Duhail), Baghdad Bounedjah (Al Shamal), Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord), Ilan Kebbal (Paris FC), Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli)
Coach: Vladimir Petkovic
BURKINA FASO
Nickname: The Stallions
AFCON History
Burkina Faso made their Africa Cup of Nations debut in 1978, but did not return to the tournament until 1996. From then on, they enjoyed a period of consistency, qualifying for five consecutive editions between 1996 and 2004.
Their most notable early achievement came in 1998, when, as tournament hosts, they reached the semi-finals under the guidance of coach Philippe Troussier.
AFCON Record
A major breakthrough followed in 2013, when Burkina Faso topped their group and advanced all the way to the final, finishing as runners-up after losing to Nigeria in South Africa. The team continued to demonstrate its competitiveness by securing third place at the 2017 AFCON in Gabon.
Star Player: Bertrand Traore (Sunderland)
Burkina Faso Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Herve Koffi (Angers), Kilian Nikiema (ADO Den Haag), Sofiane Farid Ouedraogo (Al Hilal SC)
Defenders: Nasser Yacouba Djiga (Rangers), Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen), Issoufou Dayo (Umm Salal), Adamo Nagalo (PSV Eindhoven), Steeve Yago (Aris Limassol), Issa Kaboré (Wrexham), Arsène Kouassi (Lorient), Abdoul Rachid Ayindé (Gent)
Midfielders: Ibrahim Blati Toure (Pyramids), Cedric Badolo (Spartak Trnava), Saidou Simpore (National Bank), Mohamed Zougrana (MC Alger), Gustavo Sangare (Noah), Stephane Aziz Ki (Wydad Casablanca), Ismahila Ouedraogo (OB Odense)
Forwards: Bertrand Traore (Sunderland), Dango Ouattara (Brentford), Ousseni Bouda (San Jose Earthquakes), Pierre Landry Kabore (Hearts), Georgi Minoungou (Seattle Sounders), Cyriaque Ire (Freiburg), Lassina Traore (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Coach: Brama Traore
Equatorial Guinea
Nickname: Nzalang Nacional (National Thunder)
AFCON History
Equatorial Guinea has qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations on five occasions. Their first two appearances came as tournament co-hosts in 2012 and 2015. Notably, the opening match of the 2012 AFCON marked Equatorial Guinea’s debut in a major international tournament. The team made history with a 1-0 victory over Libya on 21 January 2012, secured by an 87th-minute goal from former Real Madrid winger Javier Balboa.
AFCON Record
Equatorial Guinea’s best performance at the Africa Cup of Nations came in 2015, when they finished in fourth place. They also reached the quarter-finals in both the 2012 and 2021 editions.
Star player: Emilio Nsue (CF Intercity)
Equatorial Guinea Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Jesus Owono (FC Andorra, Spain), Manuel Sapunga (Sekhukhune United, South Africa), Aitor Embela (CD Soneja, Spain)
Defenders: Esteban Orozco (FC Arges Romania), Marvin Anieboh (UD San Sebastian, Spain), Carlos Akapo (Amazonas FC, Brazil) Saul Coco (Torino FC, Italy), Basilio Ndong (FC U Craiova, Romania), Michel Ngaah (Real Avila, Spain), Nestor Senra (Recreativo Huelva, Spain), Charles Ondo (Huddersfield Town, England), Javier Muma (Maestro United, Zambia)
Midfielders: Omar Mascarell (RCD Mallorca, Spain), Pablo Ganet (Real Murcia, Spain), Alex Balboa (Almere City, Netherlands), Alex Masogo (Beroe Stara Zagora, Bulgaria), Jose Machin (FC Cartagena, Spain), Pedro Obiang (AC Monza, Italy), Santiago Eneme (Sparta Prague, Czech Republic)
Forwards: Iban Salvador (Wisła Płock, Poland), Josete Miranda (Kalamata FC, Greece), Gael Akogo (Recreativo Granada, Spain), Jose Nabil (FC Nantes, France), Luismi Nvalo (Shanghai Shenhua, China), Dorian Junior (Viborg, Denmark), Loren Zúñiga (Real Madrid, Spain), Emilio Nsue (CF Intercity, Spain)
Coach: Juan Micha
SUDAN
Nickname: Falcons of Jediane
AFCON History
Sudan is one of Africa’s oldest national football teams and was a prominent force during the early years of the Africa Cup of Nations. In this formative era, the team produced several outstanding players, including captain Mustafa Azhari, prolific striker Nasr El-Din Abbas, Sudan’s all-time top scorer, midfield leader Siddiq Manzul, and Ali Gagarin, all of whom played key roles in establishing Sudan as a continental powerhouse.
AFCON Record
Sudan finished third at the maiden Africa Cup of Nations in 1957 and went on to become runners-up in both the 1959 and 1963 tournaments. Their greatest achievement came in 1970, when they won the AFCON on home soil, securing their only continental title to date.
Star Player: Mohamed Abdelrahman (Al Hilal Omdurman)
Sudan Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Ali Aboeshren (Al Hilal OMD), Mohamed Elnour Abooja (Al-Merrikh SC), Monged Elneel (El-Merriekh FC Bentiu)
Defenders: Mohamed Saaed (Al Hilal OMD), Altayeb Abdelrazig (Al Hilal OMD), Mustafa Karshom (Al Hilal OMD, Yasser Awad (Al Hilal OMD), Bakhit Khamis (Al Ahli Tripoli), Mazin Mohamedein (Al Akhdar), Awad Zaid (Al-Merrikh SC), Ahmed Abdelmonem (Al Hilal OMD), Mohamed Kesra (Al-Merrikh SC)
Midfielders: Abuaagla Abdalla (Al Ahly/Egypt), Waliedin Khidhir (Al Ahly), Abdelrazig Omer (Al Hilal OMD), Ammar Tayfour (CS Sfax), Salaheldin Adil (Al Hilal OMD), Musa Hussain (Al-Merrikh SC/Rwanda), Sheddy Ezeldin (FC Den Bosch), Amar Yunis (Avondale FC/Australia)
Forwards: Yasser Mozamil (Al Hilal OMD/Rwanda), Mohamed Abdelrhman (Al Hilal OMD), John Mano (Al Ahli Tripoli), Mohamed Eisa (Uthai Thani FC), Elgozoli Hussain (Al-Merrikh SC), Abobaker Eisa (Chonburi FC), Mohamed Teya (Al-Merrikh SC)
Coach: Kwesi Appiah
