Algeria has long been a cornerstone of African football. Known for their technically gifted players and their passionate fan base that follows the national team across the globe, “The Desert Foxes” have a lasting hunger for trophies. While other nations experience waves of succes, Algeria’s ambition remains constant. With a mix of experienced stars and promising young talent, they head into the Africa Cup 2025 determined to leave their mark once again.
- Nickname: The Desert Foxes
- Head coach: Vladimir Petković
- AFCON appearances: 20 times
- FIFA ranking: 36
Algeria’s Match Schedule
Algeria has been drawn into Group E, alongside Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan. Below is their full group stage schedule, including dates, times and venues. So you know exactly when to follow the Desert Foxes.
| 24 December | Group stage |
 Algeria Sudan | 3 0 |
| 28 December | Group stage |
Algeria Burkina Faso | 1 0 |
| 31 December | Group stage |
 Equatorial Guinea Algeria | 1 3 |
| 6 January | Round of 16 |
Algeria DR Congo | 1 (AET) 0 |
| 10 January | Quarter-final |
Algeria Nigeria | 0 2 |
Football Shirt Algeria
Algeria Home Shirt AFCON 2025
Stats Algeria AFCON 2025
Top scorers
| # | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Riyad Mahrez | 3 |
| 2. | Ibrahim Maza | 2 |
| 3. | Zineddine Belaid | 1 |
| 4. | Adil Boulbina | 1 |
| 5. | Farès Chaïbi | 1 |
Assists
| # | Player | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Anis Hadj-Moussa | 2 |
| 2. | Ibrahim Maza | 1 |
| 3. | Ramiz Zerrouki | 1 |
| 4. | Hicham Boudaoui | 1 |
| 5. | Baghdad Bounedjah | 1 |
| 6. | Mohamed Amoura | 1 |
Rating
| # | Player | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Riyad Mahrez | 7,7 |
| 2. | Ibrahim Maza | 7,4 |
| 3. | Zineddine Belaid | 7,2 |
| 4. | Ramy Bensebaini | 7,2 |
| 5. | Luca Zidane | 7,2 |
| 6. | Adil Boulbina | 7,0 |
| 7. | Aïssa Mandi | 7,0 |
| 8. | Rayan Aït-Nouri | 6,9 |
| 9. | Ramiz Zerrouki | 6,9 |
| 10. | Anis Hadj-Moussa | 6,8 |
Algeria Squad
Keepers:
Oussama Benbot (USM Algier), Luca Zidane (Granada), Anthony Mandrea (SM Caen)
Defenders:
Rayan Aït-Nouri (Manchester City), Youcef Atal (Al-Sadd), Zineddine Belaid (JS Kabylie), Rafik Belghali (Hellas Verona), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund), Samir Chergui (Paris FC), Mehdi Dorval (Bari), Jaouen Hadjam (BSC Young Boys), Aïssa Mandi (Lille), Mohamed Amine Tougai (Esperance)
Midfielders:
Houssem Aouar (Al-Ittihad), Ismaël Bennacer (Dinamo Zagreb), Hicham Boudaoui (OGC Nice), Farès Chaïbi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen), Ramiz Zerrouki (FC Twente), Adem Zorgane (Union Saint-Gilloise)
Attackers:
Mohamed Amoura (Wolfsburg), 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)
Head Coach Algeria
The 61-year old Vladimir Petković makes his Africa Cup debut in 2025. Best known for his time as Switzerland’s head coach, he guided them through several European Championships and World Cups. He also managed prominent clubs such as Lazio Roma, Sion and Bordeaux.
Since his appointment in March 2024, Petković has impressed with his tactical organization and calm leadership. Expectations are high for his first continental tournament with the Desert Foxes.
Star Player Algeria
For years, Riyad Mahrez has been the face of Algerian football and is regarded as one of the nation’s greatest ever talents. After a historic Premier League triumph with Leicester City in 2016 and a trophy-laden spell at Manchester City (capped with a Champions League title in 2023), Mahrez moved to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, where he continues to showcase his trademark dribbling, vision and flair.
As Algeria’s captain, Mahrez is invaluable, not just for his technical brilliance, but also for the experience and leadership he provides to the younger generation. His unforgettable free-kick goal in the 2019 semi-final against Nigeria remains etched in fans’ memories. With his creativity and composure, Mahrez has the ability to change a game in an instant. Once again, much of Algeria’s hope in 2025 rests on his shoulders.
AFCON History
Algeria has a rich AFCON history, being a constant presence since their debut in 1986. Over the years, they have experienced both moments of glory and bitter disappointments. Their two shining triumphs came in 1990 on home soil and in 2019 in Egypt.
There have also been near missus, such as the 1980 final defeat to Nigeria, and early exists in other editions. This inconsistency is part of what makes Algeria’s Africa Cup story so compelling. One thing remains certain: the Desert Foxes are always a team to be reckoned with.
Road to AFCON 2025
Algeria enjoyed a dominant qualifying campaign for the Africa Cup 2025. The Desert Foxes went unbeaten, recording five wins and one draw, scoring 16 goals and conceding just 2. Comfortable victories over Togo en Liberia highlighted their attacking power, while the defensive solidity under Petković also stood out. With such commanding form, Algeria showed they are ready to be one of the tournament’s main contenders.
| Thursday 5 September 2024 | |
| Algeria Equatorial Guinea | 2 0 |
| Tuesday 10 September 2024 | |
 Liberia Algeria | 0 3 |
| Thursday 10 October 2024 | |
Algeria Togo | 5 1 |
| Monday 14 October 2024 | |
| Togo Algeria | 0 1 |
| Monday 11 November 2024 | |
| Equatorial Guinea Algeria | 0 0 |
| Tuesday 19 November 2024 | |
| Algeria Liberia | 5 1 |
| Team | PTS | G | W | D | L | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 16 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | +14 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | -3 |
| Togo | 5 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -3 |
| Liberia | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -8 |
Stats
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Amine Gouiri | 5 |
| 2. | Mohamed Amoura | 3 |
| 3. | Houssem Aouar | 2 |
| 4. | Baghdad Bounedjah | 2 |
| 5. | Saïd Benrahma | 2 |
| 6. | Adem Zorgane | 1 |
| 7. | Ramy Bensebaini | 1 |
| 8. | Riyad Mahrez | 1 |
| 9. | Aïssa Mandi | 1 |
Assists
| Player | Assists | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Mohamed Farsi | 2 |
| 2. | Ramiz Zerrouki | 2 |
| 3. | Mohamed Amoura | 2 |
| 4. | Ramy Bensebaini | 1 |
| 5. | Amine Gouiri | 1 |
| 6. | Himad Abdelli | 1 |
Players Ratings
| Player | Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Mohamed Amoura | 7,7 |
| 2. | Ramy Bensebaini | 7,5 |
| 3. | Houssem Aouar | 7,5 |
| 4. | Alexis Guendouz | 7,5 |
| 5. | Himad Abdelli | 7,4 |
| 6. | Amine Gouiri | 7,3 |
| 7. | Aïssa Mandi | 7,3 |
| 8. | Alexandre Oukidja | 7,3 |
| 9. | Riyad Mahrez | 7,2 |
| 10. | Farès Chaïbi | 7,2 |