Algeria’s flawless run through the group stage has set up a heavyweight last-16 meeting with the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rabat, and Chérif Oudjani believes the Fennecs will need to be at their very best to survive what he describes as an “unpredictable duel”.
The former striker, who scored the decisive goal in the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations final to secure Algeria’s first continental crown, has followed the team closely from afar and has been impressed by what he has seen so far in Morocco.
Algeria topped their section with maximum points after victories over Sudan, Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea, a perfect record that echoes the group-stage performances of their title-winning sides in 1990 and 2019.
“ In 2022 and 2024, Algeria failed to advance past the first round without winning a single match. This year, they made a perfect start, dominating Sudan (3-0). While their opponent was admittedly weaker, a win was essential. After that, things become easier, as a victory at the start of an AFCON is crucial for confidence. Against Burkina Faso (1-0), a team of a different caliber, it wasn’t easy; Algeria was sometimes under pressure, but they secured their qualification. It’s truly a positive result to have taken nine points in the first round ,” Oudjani said.
At the heart of that resurgence has been captain Riyad Mahrez, whose form in Ivory Coast last year drew criticism.
In Morocco, however, he has been decisive, scoring twice in the opening match and converting the penalty that sealed victory over Burkina Faso, before being rested for the final group game.
“ Mahrez was heavily criticized after the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. So it’s a pleasant surprise to see him playing at this level this year. He doesn’t have the legs he had in 2019, when he played a crucial role in winning the AFCON in Egypt, but he remains a very good player. Technically, he’s still capable of great things. He’s efficient, puts the team first, and Petkovic knows how and for how long to use him. And Mahrez is also very well supported. We have experienced players like Bensebaïni and Amoura who are performing well, Maza is really promising, and Luca Zidane handles the pressure well, does what he has to do, and doesn’t show any particular nervousness ,” Oudjani added.
The former international has also welcomed the impact of head coach Vladimir Petkovic, appointed in February 2024 after Djamel Belmadi’s departure.
🗣️ La déclaration forte de Ismaël Bennacer sur Riyad Mahrez 🇩🇿✨
« Riyad, c’est le capitaine.
Il se doit de montrer l’exemple à tout le monde et il le fait ! Très très impliqué, il tient à cœur de faire quelque chose dans cette compétition.
Sur le terrain comme en dehors, il… pic.twitter.com/AJiJfipHj4— Afrik-Foot (@afrikfoot) January 5, 2026
The Swiss-Bosnian has guided Algeria through the group stage and into the next phase of World Cup qualifying.
“ He has a different style from Djamel Belmadi. Petkovic is very calm, very composed, and he’s a coach with the necessary international experience, having managed Switzerland with whom he achieved good results. His objectives have been met, and we hope that Algeria will go far in this AFCON. The team is playing quite well, scoring goals, and defensively, it’s becoming increasingly solid. I also hope that if Algeria is eliminated by the DRC, it won’t throw everything into question, because a national team needs stability, especially before a World Cup. But in Africa, sometimes there can be a certain amount of turmoil after a defeat… ”
Oudjani, however, insists the task ahead is far from straightforward.
Le sélectionneur de la R.D Congo Sébastien Desabre en conférence de presse 🇨🇩
🗣 : « On sait qu’on a les armes pour pouvoir passer ce tour à condition qu’on fasse un grand match »#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 #afrikfoot #afcon2025 #rdcongo #algrdc pic.twitter.com/AHmYDslEwS
— Afrik-Foot (@afrikfoot) January 5, 2026
DR Congo arrive in Rabat buoyed by strong results over the past two years, including a fourth-place finish at the previous tournament, and they have developed a reputation for rising to big occasions under coach Sébastien Desabre.
“ This team really impresses me. For the past two years, they’ve had excellent results, capable of beating or holding teams like Cameroon, Nigeria, or Senegal. Desabre is doing a great job; he has a quality squad, very cohesive and well-oiled. The DRC plays attractive football, with technical quality. In my opinion, it will be a very close match, and to win, Algeria will have to be at their very best, ” he concluded.
