Reigning champions Ivory Coast pipped Cameroon to top spot in their group after Algeria maintained their perfect record as the first round of the Africa Cup of Nations concluded on Wednesday.

Algeria on Sunday became the third country after Egypt and Nigeria to qualify for the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations by edging Burkina Faso 1-0 in Rabat through a Riyad Mahrez penalty.

Organisers at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco are allowing supporters in for free after kick-off in matches where stadiums are not full, according to a report.

Luca Zidane opted to represent Algeria, the country of his grandfather's birth, and kept a cleansheet in a 3-0 win over Sudan.

The decision by African football bosses to change the Africa Cup of Nations from a biennial competition to a tournament held every four years has been met with a mixed reaction on the continent with some seeing it as simply caving in to pressure from European clubs and FIFA.

Captain Riyad Mahrez scored in each half as 2019 champions Algeria eased to a 3-0 win over 10-man Sudan in their opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday.

Luca Zidane switched his international allegiance from France to Algeria last month, after representing Les Bleus at youth levels.

Atalanta and Nigeria striker Ademola Lookman, who finished 14th in the Ballon d'Or rankings, is the favourite to pick up the award.

Lamine Camara scored a stunning brace as Senegal began their defence of the Africa Cup of Nations title with a 3-0 win over Gambia on Monday

The French Football Federation (FFF) said on Sunday its ethics committee would investigate Nice player Youcef Atal for social media posts containing "calls for violence", linked to the Hamas-Israel conflict

Senegal completed a double when they beat hosts Algeria 5-4 on penalties after a 0-0 draw to win the African Nations Championship (CHAN) final on Saturday

Morocco, winner of the last two CHAN tournaments, withdrew its participation on Friday after host Algeria refused to authorise a direct flight from Rabat.

The Ivory Coast crushed an abject Algeria 4-1 on Thursday with Nicolas Pepe among the scorers as the reigning champions crashed out of the Africa Cup of Nations in the group stage.

AFCON: The 30-year-old Manchester City winger skippered his country to victory against Senegal in the 2019 final in Egypt

Algeria clinched their first Africa Cup of Nations title in 29 years, and the country's first on foreign soil, having lifted the trophy as hosts in 1990.

Algeria will take on Sadio Mane's Senegal for the title on July 19, in a repeat of a group stage clash they won 1-0.

With talisman Cristiano Ronaldo back in the side, Portugal strolled to a 3-0 win over Algeria in a World Cup warm-up match in Lisbon on Thursday.

Germany scored two goals in the extra-time to beat Algeria 2-1 in the round of 16 to make it to their 16th consecutive FIFA World Cup quarterfinals, where they face France.