Two years ago, Algeria left the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast without a single win, knocked out after the group stage by a loss to Mauritania. It was their second consecutive early exit, a humiliating fall for a team that had lifted the trophy in 2019. The critics were savage. Coach Djamel Belmadi was sacked. Riyad Mahrez, the captain and talisman, was dropped before the tournament even began.
Fast forward to Morocco 2025, and something has shifted. Algeria have just completed the group stage with nine points from nine. Seven goals scored, one conceded. Only Nigeria matched that record. And if you've been watching closely, you'll know this isn't just a statistical anomaly.
Petkovic's quiet revolution
Vladimir Petkovic doesn't do grand declarations. The Swiss-Bosnian tactician, who took over after Belmadi's departure, has rebuilt this team with surgical precision. When asked about title ambitions before the tournament, he was almost dismissive.
"Our first goal will be to qualify for the second round, then we shall see," he told Algerian media. "I never promise anything."
But his actions spoke louder. A training camp abroad, a streamlined squad, and a tactical framework that prioritizes defensive solidity. After the 3-0 demolition of Sudan in the opener, Petkovic remained measured: "We weren't perfect, but we'll have to raise our level in the next match."
He got exactly that. The 1-0 win over Burkina Faso was a masterclass in control. Algeria dictated tempo, absorbed pressure, and struck when it mattered through Mahrez's penalty.
The Zidane factor
Perhaps the most compelling subplot of Algeria's campaign has been Luca Zidane. The 27-year-old goalkeeper, son of Zinedine Zidane, chose to represent his grandparents' homeland over France in September 2025. An injury to first-choice keeper Alexis Guendouz handed him the starting spot, and he's seized it with both hands.
Two matches, two clean sheets. And in the stands at the Moulay Hassan Stadium, his father has been there for every minute. The cameras found Zinedine repeatedly during both games, the former Real Madrid coach receiving standing ovations from Algerian fans who haven't forgotten his family's roots.
"It's really nice that he came with my brother," Luca said after the Sudan match. "I've always had my family's support, and seeing them here at AFCON gives me even more strength to defend Algeria's colours."
According to Olympics.com and ESPN, Zinedine Zidane was accompanied by his wife Véronique and other family members. For Algeria, it's more than just a sporting story. It's a symbol of reconnection, of heritage reclaimed.
Maza: the Bundesliga star stealing the show
While the Zidane storyline dominated headlines, Ibrahim Maza has been Algeria's most exciting revelation. The 20-year-old Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder scored against Sudan, was named Man of the Match against Burkina Faso, and added another goal and assist in the 3-1 win over Equatorial Guinea.
Born in Berlin, Maza represented Germany at youth level before switching allegiance to Algeria in 2024. His technical ability, vision, and dribbling have drawn comparisons to a young Mahrez. Barcelona scouts, according to Mundo Deportivo, attended Algeria's final group match to monitor his progress. Leverkusen paid €12 million for him last summer. That fee now looks like a bargain.
If Maza continues this form in the knockout rounds, the Player of the Tournament debate might already be over.
Mahrez's final act?
At 34, Riyad Mahrez knows this could be his last chance at AFCON glory. The Al Ahli winger has already written history: his brace against Sudan made him Algeria's all-time leading scorer at the continental championship with eight goals. He was rested for the final group game, a luxury Petkovic could afford with qualification already secured.
But Mahrez hasn't forgotten the failures of 2022 and 2024. "We have to be realistic given what happened to us in the last two AFCON tournaments," he said before the competition. "We dare not fail again."
He also pushed back against the growing hype: "Some observers are including us among the title favourites, but that means nothing. Morocco have to be favourites as they will be playing on home soil, backed by huge, partisan crowds."
What comes next
Algeria face DR Congo in the Round of 16 on Tuesday in Rabat. It's a tricky tie against a physical side, but the momentum is clearly with the Fennecs. The tactical solidity is there. The attacking options are there. And crucially, the belief is back.
Whether Algeria can go all the way remains to be seen. Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, and defending champions Ivory Coast all lurk in the bracket. But after two editions of embarrassment, Petkovic has given Algerian football something it had lost: hope.
And with Zinedine Zidane watching from the stands, cheering on his son and the team of his ancestors, this AFCON feels different. Football, at its best, is about more than just results. It's about stories. Algeria, right now, have the best one in Morocco.