AFCON 2025 Group E Predictions: Algeria to edge Burkina Faso to top spot

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco kicks off on Sunday, December 21, but Group E, featuring Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan, doesn't begin until Wednesday, December 24.

Below are my AFCON 2025 Group E Predictions, alongside the group winner odds and a rundown of all four teams.

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Africa Cup of Nations Odds

Football Odds

Algeria

Fifa world ranking: 35

To win the group: 2/5

Algeria were almost perfect in qualifying, winning five and drawing one of their six games to top Group E ahead of Equatorial Guinea, Togo and Liberia, while they also finished first in their 2026 World Cup qualification group, seven points ahead of closest challengers Uganda.

The two-time Afcon winners, who last tasted success at this event in 2019, have suffered humiliation at the last two tournaments, though, going out in the group stage of the 2021 (played in 2022) and 2023 (played in 2024) editions.

However, with the 2025 Afcon taking place in North Africa for the first time since they secured their second title in 2019, the Desert Foxes will be hopeful that they can go deep this time around, with a third cup in their sights as the second favourites (11/2) behind hosts Morocco (5/2).

Key player: Mohamed Amoura

Riyad Mahrez, formerly of Leicester City and Manchester City fame, is the standout name in Vladimir Petkovic's squad, but at 34 years old, and with just one goal and two assists in nine Saudi Pro League appearances for Al-Ahli this season, Algeria may need to look elsewhere for a spark in attack.

While Mahrez scored just once in five Afcon qualifiers, and only once in eight World Cup qualifiers, Wolfsburg forward Mohamed Amoura has been in prolific form for his country, particularly in the latter campaign.

The 25-year-old notched twice - and provided two assists - in four Afcon qualifiers before netting 10 times in as many World Cup qualifiers.

Amoura boasts a one-in-two record for his country, with his solitary strike in Algeria's 3-1 friendly win against Zimbabwe last month making it 19 goals in 38 senior caps.

After scoring 10 goals and registering the same number of assists in 31 Bundesliga games last season, Amoura is already on six strikes and two assists in 14 competition matches this term, and looks set to better his 2024/25 tally, at least in terms of goals.

While Mahrez and Shamal striker Baghdad Bounedjah, both 34, will look to play their part in Morocco, Amoura may be the one to take centre stage for the Desert Foxes.

Prediction: First

After back-to-back groupings, finishing behind Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone at the 2021 Afcon, and behind Angola, Burkina Faso and Mauritania at the 2023 Afcon, you can bet Algeria will be desperate to make amends this time around, and the conditions should suit them better, too.

They're in great form, and really, have no excuses not to finish top of Group E.

I expect them to win the group and go far in the tournament, with a final-four berth well within their reach.

Burkina Faso

Fifa world ranking: 62

To win the group: 3/1

Burkina Faso, runners-up at the 2013 Afcon in South Africa, have reached the knockout phase of the last three tournaments they have featured in (they didn't qualify in 2019), finishing third in 2017 and fourth in 2021 (played in 2022), before suffering a last-16 exit to eventual winners Ivory Coast in 2023 (played in 2024).

The Stallions finished second in their qualification group for Morocco, six points behind champions Senegal, but six points ahead of both Burundi (third) and Malawi (fourth). They came second in the World Cup qualifying group, too, ending up five points behind Egypt and six points ahead of third-placed Sierra Leone, but just missed out on a play-off place for next year's tournament in North America.

Despite that disappointment, there will be confidence in the Burkina Faso ranks heading into this event, with a real chance to at least clinch a runners-up spot in Group E and reach the knockout phase again.

Key player: Dango Ouattara

Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba is likely to be crucial at the back for Burkina Faso, while Sunderland winger and Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore, who top-scored for his country at the 2023 edition with two goals, remains as important as ever in attack.

However, it's Brentford forward Dango Ouattara who I'm predicting to be their biggest asset in Morocco.

The 23-year-old scored twice in three Afcon qualifiers before netting four times in 10 World Cup qualifiers, and after earning a big-money move in the summer from AFC Bournemouth to Brentford, he has finally managed to settle down and become a permanent starter in the Premier League, recording three goals, too.

Prediction: Second

I've got Algeria winning Group E, but Burkina Faso are a solid second, for me, and I think they could go deep in this tournament. At 66/1 with Betfred, they're my outside bet to win the 2025 Afcon.

Equatorial Guinea

Fifa world ranking: 90

To win the group: 9/1

Remarkably, Equatorial Guinea have reached the knockout phase of all four Afcons they have participated in. While they lost 1-0 to Guinea in the last 16 of the previous edition, they were one of the success stories of the tournament as they topped Group A ahead of Nigeria and Ivory Coast, who both ended up contesting the final.

National Thunder finished as runners-up, behind Algeria, in their qualification group for this competition, but their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign was less successful as they ended up fifth in the six-team table, ahead of only Sao Tome and Principe.

Key player: Emilio Nsue

Equatorial Guinea's captain and all-time leading scorer with 24 goals in 49 caps, Emilio Nsue's participation in the 2025 Afcon, less than two years after winning the Golden Boot in the Ivory Coast, wasn't certain until earlier this year.

The 36-year-old was ruled as ineligible to play for Equatorial Guinea in May 2024 by Fifa, who alleged that Nsue had used a fraudulent Equatoguinean passport in which it is stated that he was born in Malabo, instead of Palma de Mallorca.

He was ruled to have continued playing for Equatorial Guinea "while undoubtedly knowing that he was ineligible" and was given a further six-month ban from playing international matches, but on March 5, 2025, Nsue's request to change allegiances was accepted by Fifa, clearing him to play for National Thunder.

Having struck five times in four games during the 2023 Afcon, Nsue will surely spearhead Equatorial Guinea's attack again in Morocco, and if he can produce similar numbers there, his country will stand another great chance of making the last 16.

Prediction: Third

It's going to be difficult for Equatorial Guinea to match their achievements at the last Afcon, especially with North African giants Algeria gunning for glory in Group E, while Burkina Faso should prove too strong for them, too; however, a third-place finish, which could secure a spot in the knockouts, is definitely achievable.

Sudan

Fifa world ranking: 118

To win the group: 20/1

Since reaching the quarter-finals in 2012, 1970 champions Sudan have only appeared once at the Afcon, finishing third in Group D of the 2021 edition (played in 2022), where they failed to qualify to the knockouts as one of the four best third-placed teams, with just a point to their name after three games.

The Falcons of Jediane qualified for this year's tournament after finishing as runners-up to Angola in Group F, a point ahead of Niger and five points clear of Ghana, while they achieved a respectable third-place finish in their 2026 World Cup qualification group behind Senegal and DR Congo.

Key player: Mohamed Abdelrahman

Mohamed Abdelrahman, plying his trade in his homeland with Al-Hilal Omdurman, is the only player named in James Kwesi Appiah's squad to have scored more than eight international goals.

The 32-year-old has notched 23 times in 61 caps, and he will be hoping to displace Nasr Eddin Abbas (27 goals) as his country's all-time leading scorer at some point in the next 12 months.

Prediction: Fourth

Sudan will be placing a lot of emphasis on their defence, with very little quality in their attack.

The Falcons of Jediane scored just eight goals in 10 World Cup qualifiers, blanking in their last four, and they are unlikely to trouble Algeria or Burkina Faso in Group E, while Equatorial Guinea will expect to finish above them, too.

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