Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic cut a satisfied but measured figure after his side’s 3-1 victory over Equatorial Guinea sealed a perfect group campaign at AFCON 2025.
Reflecting on a dominant display, he highlighted both the performance and the promise within his squad.
“I think we had one of the best first half performances,” Petkovic said, pointing to the way Algeria raced into a three-goal lead inside 32 minutes to take full control of the match. He was especially pleased that seven of his starters were born after 2000, describing it as “a good indication of a bright future” for the team.
The only blemish was Emilio Nsue’s superb second-half strike, which denied Algeria a clean sheet. “It’s a pity we conceded but in the same breath, it was a quality goal that was very difficult to avoid,” Petkovic admitted. Still, he praised how his players managed the game, noting he was “very happy with how the group acted and reacted throughout this game and all the group matches.”
With maximum points secured, he stressed the importance of rest and recovery now, as Algeria turn their focus to the knockout rounds.
