Algerian Radio
National football team coach Vladimir Petkovic has highlighted the importance of a strong start to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled from December 21 to January 18, 2026. Algeria faces Sudan tomorrow, Wednesday, at 4:00 PM in their opening Group E match.
"The first match is always difficult, especially when it comes right after the preparation period. We are calm, confident, and ready to give everything. We will do our utmost to win. The encounter promises to be complicated: we must respect the opponent while having confidence in our own qualities," declared Petkovic during a press conference held 24 hours before the match against Sudan.
In addition to Sudan, Algeria—marking its 21st participation in the AFCON—will also face Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea, who are set to play each other on Wednesday at 1:30 PM.
"I think we are happy with everything we have done. The team is doing well; luckily, we have recovered all the players except for Aouar. The team is working well, and I am sure they will start well," he added.
When asked about the last two editions, which ended in first-round eliminations, the national coach insisted on the need to forget the past and remain focused on the current competition.
"I told my players that the past belongs to yesterday. We must work today to prepare for tomorrow. We approach this adventure with confidence and positivity. My team is working well, and we are waiting for the final session, scheduled for this Tuesday, to finalize the starting eleven and the squad list. We are under an obligation to bring satisfaction to our country and our people," he emphasized.
Without a single victory since the final won at the 2019 AFCON against Senegal (1-0) in Egypt, the national team is called upon to rediscover success starting with this match against Sudan, Petkovic estimates.
"We must change things. The group has worked well, and what happened is now behind us. Facing Sudan, I am convinced that my team will be ready for the competition."
Finally, Vladimir Petkovic confirmed that he had the opportunity to analyze his first AFCON opponent during the 2025 CHAN and recently at the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 in Qatar.
"We took advantage of that competition to analyze this opponent. They played the CHAN and the Arab Cup with practically the same squad," he concluded.
The national team held its final pre-match training session on Tuesday morning. The session was partially open to the press and was preceded by a mixed zone with the media present.
As a reminder, the top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, will qualify for the round of 16.
