AFCON 2025: All you need to know about Algeria
Since their impressive coronation at the AFCON 2019 in Egypt, Algeria has not been able to consistently show up with good results in the competition. An early first round exit in both 2021 in Cameroon and 2023 in Ivory Coast has not been reputable for the Desert Foxes. New boss Vladimir Petkovic may have the spell breaker, haven qualified Algeria to the FIFA World Cup in 2026. The AFCON in Morocco provides an opportunity for Algeria to reposition itself on the continent.
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
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The country
Capital: Algiers
Area: 2 381 741 km2
Population: 47.8 million inhabitants
Official languages: Arabic, Tamazight
Inhabitants: Algerians / Algerian
Motto: «By the people and for the people»
Nickname of the team: Les Fennecs, les Verts
Algeria and the AFCON
Titles: 2
Finals: 3
Participations before CAN 2025: 20
Host Country: 1 (1990)
Course at the AFCON
1968: eliminated in the first round
1980: finalist
1982: 4th
1984: 3rd
1986: eliminated in the first round
1988: 3rd
1990: champion
1992: eliminated in the first round
1996: quarter-finalist
1998: eliminated in the first round
2000: quarter-finalist
2002: eliminated in the first round
2004: quarter-finalist
2010: 4th
2013: eliminated in the first round
2015: quarter finalist
2017: eliminated in the first round
2019: champion
2021: eliminated in the first round
2023: eliminated in the first round
Assessment at the AFCON
80 matches played
28 victories
25 draws
27 defeats
99 goals scored
91 goals conceded
Mohamed Amoura, star of the Fennecs attack
Without any doubt, Mohamed Amoura will be the Algerian striker to watch in Morocco. He has a very low center of gravity, fast and efficient in front of the goal. Author of 6 goals and 2 assists in 15 matches all competitions with Wolfsburg, he arrives with confidence.
For a few years, Amoura has been carrying the Fennecs offensively. Best scorer in the playoffs of the 2026 World Cup Africa zone with 10 goals, he is present with the national team. In 38 games with the Fennecs, the 25-year-old striker scored 19 goals and delivered 6 assists. The native of Tahir, an indisputable starting player, is also a versatile player. He can play at the point of the attack or on the left side. A real asset for Algeria in the perspective of returning to a better course in this continental tournament after two consecutive eliminations in the first round.
Mohamed Amoura, Riyad Mahrez, Anis Hadj Moussa, Ilan Kebbal... the Fennecs are a fire attack to explode any defense.
Vladimir Petkovic, a huge pressure tag
On February 29, 2024, Vladimir Petkovic was appointed coach of Algeria after the dismissal of Djamel Belmadi. He took the reins of a selection that is eliminated in the first round of the competition in 2023. The objective is to rebuild a new workforce with a mix of old and young people and give new momentum to the Fennecs.
Nearly two years after his arrival, the results argue in his favor. His record is 15 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats in 20 matches. But, the Bosnian tactician is highly anticipated , which will be his first flagship competition with the Fennecs. The expectations are enormous around the Algerian selection and the coach has a lot of pressure. Without making any concrete promise, the former coach of Bordeaux reassures about the competitiveness of Algeria.
«I guarantee nothing but I assure you that the team will display a good level at the AFCON and we will have good results. Above all, we want to play our football... seek to win every match,"
he said.
The Fennecs are housed in group E with Sudan, Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea. Riyad Mahrez and his partners will make their first outing against the Sudanese on Wednesday, December 24 at 15h GMT, at the Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex in Rabat.
The list of Algeria for AFCON