CAN 2025: the APS celebrates the victory of the Greens but "forgets" the host country

In its coverage of the event, the Algerian press agency detailed with precision the progress of the match, saluting the performance of Riyad Mahrez, author of a brace (2nd, 61st), and the goal of the young Maza at the end of the match (85th).

While the published match report is exhaustive - citing the Gabonese and Cameroonian refereeing trio, the large attendance, the rainy weather and the state of the pitch - the geographical indication shines by its absence. Neither the city of Rabat, nor the Moulay Hassan stadium, nor Morocco are mentioned in the text, the agency simply referring to the "framework of the first day of group E".

From a strictly sporting point of view, this success allows the Fennecs to break a curse that had lasted since their triumph in 2019, thus signing their first victory in the final phase since the Egyptian edition.

Greatly aided by the dismissal of the Sudanese Salah Eddine Adil before half-time, Vladimir Petkovic’s men now share the lead of the group with Burkina Faso, winners on the wire of Equatorial Guinea (2-1). The two leaders will face each other next Sunday at 6:30 pm for a top-of-the-table clash, a match whose location will undoubtedly remain undetermined for some official media.