Fans have not been pouring over the border between Algeria and Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations. But that’s only because they cannot, the heavily guarded frontier now in its fourth decade of allowing no crossings other than for exceptional circumstances. But supporters of the so-called Fennecs, the Desert Foxes, have found indirect means to be present for what is already the best Afcon expedition of any since Algeria last became the champions of the continent.
That was in 2019, in Egypt, the last time North Africa hosted the event and if Riyad Mahrez’s men take that as an omen, they would carefully subject any elevated expectations to some humility. They went into Wednesday's final Group E fixture already assured of top spot, courtesy of wins over Sudan and Burkina Faso. They ended it with a perfect record, a 3-1 victory over Equatorial Guinea, ensuring maximum points and with it a continued stay in the Moroccan capital Rabat for next week's last-16 fixture.
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