Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez is optimistic his team can overcome past disappointments at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as they prepare to begin their campaign in Morocco this week.

• Algeria, winners of the 2019 AFCON, will aim to improve on their last two performances where they were eliminated in the group stages in 2021 and 2024.
• The team, currently ranked as the fourth-best in Africa by FIFA, will face Sudan on Wednesday.
• New generation players include VfL Wolfsburg forward Mohamed Amoura and goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of French legend Zinedine Zidane.