RABAT, Morocco — Zinedine Zidane watched again and Riyad Mahrez scored again as Algeria reached the last 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso on Sunday.
The 34-year-old Mahrez took his tally to three goals in two games with a penalty in the 23rd minute. The ball went one way, the goalkeeper the other, and it was enough for the Fennec Foxes to advance to the knockout stage with a maximum six points in Group E.
It came as a relief for the many Algeria fans who had made the relatively short trip to the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat. The team went out after the group stage in both editions after winning the 2019 title in Egypt.
''The goal was for us to qualify and not really individual awards,'' said Algeria youngster Ibrahim Maza, 20, who praised his colleagues' teamwork.
The spot kick was awarded by referee Daniel Laryea Nii Ayi after Rayan Aït-Nouri tumbled as he was trying to go past Burkinabe defender Ismahila Ouédraogo.
Algeria failed to take its chances with Mohamed Amoura, Maza and Aït-Nouri denied by goalkeeper Kouakou Koffi.
At the other end, Zidane's son Luca did not have much to do in the Algeria goal until he was tested by Lassina Traoré in the 83rd.
Cyriaque Irié might have equalized in stoppage time but his header went straight to the Algeria goalkeeper, who has been given a chance to shine for the country of his grandfather because of a knee injury to Alexandre Oukidja, who would likely have started.
