"Algerian fans turned out in force in Rabat on Friday to give their national team a rousing welcome as the squad arrived in Morocco ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), set to kick off on December 21. Footage shows fans cheering and waving Algerian flags as players boarded the team bus from the VIP terminal. The 24-team AFCON will see nations split into six groups of four, with the group winners and runners-up progressing to the knockout rounds, alongside the four best third-placed teams. Two-time champions Algeria last claimed the continental crown in 2019. Led by captain Riyad Mahrez, the 28-man squad also features Ismael Bennacer, Ramy Bensebaini and Ilhan Kebbal. Nicknamed the 'Greens,' Algeria have been drawn in Group E, where they will face Sudan, Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea. The current tournament sees the team under pressure to redeem themselves after disappointing early exits in 2021 and 2023 editions. The team is also balancing preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers alongside its AFCON campaign."