Algeria Inches Closer to Tunisia's AFCON Record as Nigeria Clash Looms
10 January 2026
Algeria Closes in on Historic AFCON Benchmark
Algeria keeps advancing on the African stage with a victory over the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Algerian squad is closing in on Tunisia's record for AFCON appearances, now just two matches away.
The Desert Foxes have reached 85 AFCON appearances in the tournament's history after defeating Nigeria in the quarterfinals on Saturday, leaving them two games from Tunisia's 87.
Egypt leads the all-time list with 116 appearances, followed by Ivory Coast with 111, and Nigeria with 109; Ghana sits fourth with 105, and Cameroon 100.
Tunisia ranks sixth with 87 appearances, while Algeria stands at 85; DR Congo is next with 84, then Morocco (79) and Senegal (76).
Algeria booked their spot to face Nigeria after a dramatic 1-0 victory over DR Congo in the round of 16.
Aside from the numbers, this is a fresh test for Algeria's tactical ambitions as they chase a deeper run in Africa's premier tournament.
Beyond the numbers, the mood around the team remains hopeful as they look to build momentum for the knockout rounds.
Nigeria's looming clash promises a test of nerves and pace, a duel that could reshape the rest of the quarterfinals.
Punchline 1: If football were a sniper, Algeria just aimed true and left the scoreboard a little lighter.
Punchline 2: And yes, the only thing sharper than their attack is the referee's whistle—call it a precision strike on complacency.