Complete composition of CAN 2025

Algeria and Sudan begin their campaign in Group E of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Wednesday in Rabat.

The Fennecs are considered among the contenders for the trophy but have been eliminated in two successive group stages since their second title in 2019.

Sudan won the tournament in 1970, but has only participated once since 2012, exiting after three matches in 2021.

101GreatGoals.com presents team news and starting lineups as Algeria and Sudan play their opening match of CAN 2025.

Algeria is back on the hunt! 🇩🇿

Are you excited to see them in #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025? 🤩 pic.twitter.com/hhOQf5QIVG

– CAN TotalEnergies 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 24, 2025

Algeria starting XI against Sudan

Granada goalkeeper Luca Zidane – son of French icon Zinedine – starts for Algeria in place of first choice Alexis Guendouz, who injured his knee ligaments this week.

Zidane made his debut in October after leaving France and is part of a back line including Manchester City’s Rayan Ait-Nouri and Borussia Dortmund’s Ramy Bensebaini.

Winner of the Champions League with Manchester City and five-time Premier League winner with Cityzens and Leicester City, Riyad Mahrez is part of the Algerian attack.

Al-Duhail striker Adel Boulbina and his Al-Wakrah counterpart Redouane Berkane are in the final for the first time, but Marseillais Amine Gouiri is absent due to shoulder surgery.

Algeria holds the eleven: Luca Zidane, Rafik Belghali, Aissa Mandi, Ramy Bensebaini, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Riyad Mahrez, Hicham Boudaoui, Fares Chaibi, Ismael Bennacer, Mohammed Amoura, Bagdad Bounedjah

Algeria replaces: Anthony Mandrea, Mehdi Dorval, Mohamed Tougai, Zineddine Belaid, Ramiz Zerrouki, Anis Hadj Moussa, Mounsef Bakrar, Jaouen Hadjam, Oussama Benbot, Adem Zagence, Youcef Atal, Ibrahim Maza, Ilan Kebbal, Adil Boulbina, Redouane Berkane

Sudan starting lineup against Algeria

Several of Sudan’s most experienced players play for the Al-Hilal national team, including the team’s most capped player, Abuaagla Abdalla, who starts in midfield.

Starting defenders Mohamed Ering and Mustafa Karshoum and midfielders Abdel Raouf and Salah Adil are among Abdalla’s club teammates involved.

Sudan starting lineup: Monged El Neel, Yaser Awad, Mustafa Karshoum, Mohamed Ering, Bakhit Khamis, Salah Adil, Abuaagla Abdalla, Ammar Taifour, Abdel Raouf, Mohamed Eisa, Abo Eisa

Sudan replaces: Ali Abu Eshrein, Altayeb Abdelrazig, Walieldin Khdir, Yasir Mozamil, Mohamed Abdelrahman, John Mano, Mohamed Abuja, Mazin Mohamedein, Awad Zayed, Ahmed Tabanja, Al Gozoli Nooh, Mohamed Kesra, Sheddy Barglan, Aamir Abdallah, Mohamed Tia Asad

How to watch Algeria vs Sudan: TV channel, live stream online

Kick-off on Wednesday will be at 3:00 p.m. GMT (12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT). In the UK, live CAN 2025 coverage is on Channel 4’s 4seven, All 4 and YouTube channels. In the USA, beIN Sports is the tournament broadcaster.

Online live streaming is available on a wide range of devices via Channel 4 website and the beIN Sports app and app.

The Algerian team for CAN 2025

Goalkeepers: Oussama Benbot (USM Algiers), Luca Zidane (Granada), Anthony Mandrea (Caen).

Defenders: Rafik Belghali (Hellas Verona), Rayan Ait-Nouri (Mancester City), Youcef Atal (Al-Sadd), Mehdi Dorval (Bari), Jaouen Hadjam (Young Boys), Zineddine Belaid (JS Kabylie), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund), Samir Chergui (Paris FC), Aissa Mandi (Lille), Mohamed Amine Tougai (Espérance).

Midfield: Ismael Bennacer (Dinamo Zagreb), Ramiz Zerrouki (FC Twente), Adem Zagence (Union Saint-Gilloise), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen), Himad Abdelli (Angers).

Advantages: Mohamed Amoura (Wolfsburg), Ilan Kebbal (Paris FC), Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli), Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord), Adil Boulbina (Al-Duhail), Monsef Bakrar (Dinamo Zagreb), Bagdad Bounedjah (Al-Shamal), Redouane Berkane (Al-Wakrah).

Sudan team for CAN 2025

Goalkeepers: Ali Aboeshren (Al Hilal), Mohamed Abooja (Al Merrikh), Monged Elneel (El Merreikh Juba).

Defenders: Altayeb Abaker (Al Hilal), Yasser Awad Boshara (Al Hilal), Mohamed Kasri Hakeem (Jamus), Bakhit Khamis (Al Ahli Tripoli), Mustapha Kharshom (Al Hilal), Mazin Mohamedin (Al Akhdar), Mohamed Saeed Ahmed (Al Hilal), Ahmed Tabanja (Al Merrikh), Awad Zaid (Al Merrikh).

Midfield: Aamir Abdallah (Avondale), Mohamed Abuagla (Al Hilal), Salahedin Adil (Al Hilal), Sheddy Barglan (FC Den Bosch), Musa Ali Hussain (Al Merrikh), Walieldin Khidir (Al Hilal), Abdelrazig Omer (Al Hilal), Amar Taifour (CS Sfaxien).

Advantages: Mohamed Abderahman (Al Hilal), Abo Eisa (Chonburi), Al-Gozoli Nooh (Al Merrikh), Mo Eisa (Uthai Thani), John Mano (Al Akhdar), Yasir Mozamil (Al Hilal), Muhamed Tia Asad (Al Merrikh).

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Which are the host cities for CAN 2025?

Agadir – Grand Stade d’Agadir (capacity – 41,144)

Casablanca – Mohammed V Sports Complex (45,000)

Fes – Fes Sports Complex (35,468)

Marrakech – Grand Stade de Marrakech (41,245)

Rabat – Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex (69,500)

Rabat – Al Barid Stadium (18,000)

Rabat – Olympic Stadium Annex Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex (21,000)

Rabat – Prince Heritier Sports Complex Moulay EL Hassan (22,000)

Tangier – Grand Stade de Tangier (75,600)

CAN 2025 schedule, full schedule of the African Cup of Nations

Sunday December 21, 2025

• Group A: Morocco 2-0 Comoros (Rabat)

Monday December 22, 2025

• Group A: Mali 1-1 Zambia (Casablanca)
• Group B: South Africa 2-1 Angola (Marrakech, 5:00 p.m.)
• Group B: Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe (Agadir, 8:00 p.m.)

Tuesday December 23, 2025

• Group D: Senegal 3-0 Botswana (Tangier, 12:30 p.m.)
• Group D: DR Congo 1-0 Benin (Rabat, 3:00 p.m.)
• Group C: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania (Fez, 5:30 p.m.)
• Group C: Tunisia 3-1 Uganda (Rabat, 8:00 p.m.)

Wednesday December 24, 2025

• Group E: Burkina Faso – Equatorial Guinea (Casablanca, 12:30 p.m.)
• Group E: Algeria – Sudan (Rabat, 3:00 p.m.)
• Group F: Ivory Coast – Mozambique (Marrakech, 5:30 p.m.)
• Group F: Cameroon – Gabon (Agadir, 8:00 p.m.)

Friday December 26, 2025

• Group B: Angola – Zimbabwe (Marrakech, 12:30 p.m.)
• Group B: Egypt – South Africa (Agadir, 3:00 p.m.)
• Group A: Zambia – Comoros (Casablanca, 5:30 p.m.)
• Group A: Morocco – Mali (Rabat, 8:00 p.m.)

Saturday December 27, 2025

• Group D: Benin – Botswana (Rabat, 12:30 p.m.)
• Group D: Senegal – DR Congo (Tangier, 3:00 p.m.)
• Group C: Uganda – Tanzania (Rabat 3, 5:30 p.m.)
• Group C: Nigeria – Tunisia (Fez, 8:00 p.m.)

Sunday December 28, 2025

• Group F: Gabon vs Mozambique (Agadir, 12:30)
• Group E: Equatorial Guinea – Sudan (Casablanca, 3:00 p.m.)
• Group E: Algeria – Burkina Faso (Rabat, 5:30 p.m.)
• Group F: Ivory Coast – Cameroon, (Marrakech, 8:00 p.m.)

Monday December 29, 2025

• Group B: Angola – Egypt (Agadir, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group B: Zimbabwe – South Africa (Marrakech, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group A: Comoros – Mali (Casablanca, 7:00 p.m.)
• Group A: Zambia – Morocco (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Tuesday December 30, 2025

• Group C: Tanzania – Tunisia (Rabat, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group C: Uganda – Nigeria (Fez, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group D: Benin – Senegal (Tangier, 7:00 p.m.)
• Group D: Botswana – DR Congo (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Wednesday December 31, 2025

• Group E: Equatorial Guinea – Algeria (Rabat, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group E: Sudan – Burkina Faso (Casablanca, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group F: Gabon – Ivory Coast (Marrakech, 7:00 p.m.)
• Group F: Mozambique vs Cameroon (Agadir, 7:00 p.m.)

2025 African Cup of Nations, round of 16

Saturday January 3, 2026

• SR1: winner of Group D vs third in Group B/E/F (Tangier, 4:00 p.m.)
• SR2: Group A finalists vs Group C finalists (Casablanca, 7:00 p.m.)

Sunday January 4

• SR3: Winner of Group A vs third in Group C/D/E (Rabat, 4:00 p.m.)
• SR4: Vice-champion of Group B vs Vice-champion of Group F (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Monday January 5

• SR5: winner of group B vs third of group A/C/D (Agadir, 6 p.m.)
• SR6: winners of Group C vs thirds of Groups A/B/F (Fez, 8:30 p.m.)

Tuesday January 6

• SR7: Winners of Group E vs finalists of Group D (Rabat 2, 6 p.m.)
• SR8: winners of Group F vs vice-champions of Group E (Marrakech, 8:30 p.m.)

Quarter-finals of the 2025 African Cup of Nations

Friday January 9

• QF1: Winner SR2 vs Winner SR1 (Tangier, 4:00 p.m.)
• QF2: Winner SR4 vs Winner SR3 (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Saturday January 10

• QF3: Winner SR7 vs Winner SR6 (Marrakech, 4:00 p.m.)
• QF4: Winner SR5 vs Winner SR8 (Agadir, 7:00 p.m.)

2025 African Cup of Nations semi-finals

Wednesday January 14

• SF1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF4 (Tangier, 5:00 p.m.)
• SF2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF2 (Rabat, 8:00 p.m.)

2025 Africa Cup of Nations third place match

Saturday January 17

• SF1 vs SF2 losers (Casablanca, 4:00 p.m.)

2025 African Cup of Nations Final

Sunday January 18

• Winners SF1 vs SF2 (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)