Algeria began the stronger side, and were denied a penalty inside the opening two minutes, when Bertrand Traore went down inside the area.
However, they’d get one on 22’, when Rayan Aït-Nouri was adjudged to have been fouled by Ismahila Ouedraogo, and Riyad Mahrez sent Herve Koffi the wrong way to give the Greens the lead with his seventh goal contribution in his last five international matches.
With the wind in their sails, Algeria ought to have doubled their lead nine minutes before HT, when Mohamed Amoura struck a loose ball inside the area over the crossbar despite being under no pressure.
Burkina Faso had done very little to worry their opponents from an attacking perspective in the first half, but they came agonisingly close to drawing level just before the break, when Pierre Kabore’s close-range header comes back off the right post.
Having missed a presentable chance, the Stallions were almost punished in the final minute of added time after Amoura broke through one-on-one with Koffi. His effort was saved, much to their relief.
Giorgi Minoungou scored Burkina Faso’s equaliser in their stoppage-time win over Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday, and he came close to reliving that moment with the first opportunity of the second half, when his right-footed effort from outside the area dribbled just wide of the right post shortly after the hour mark.
At the other end, Ibrahim Maza twice nearly succeeded where Minoungou had failed. However, the forward sent his first effort wide of the left post before being denied at point-blank range by Koffi after showing quick feet to create space for the shot.
Having scored at least twice in five of their previous seven outings, Burkina Faso carried a threat on paper throughout, but their lacklustre display in front of goal meant an equaliser always looked unlikely, as they slipped to their first defeat of this AFCON edition.
That said, the Stallions still remain in a good position, as they occupy second place heading into their final group game. They also know that a point against Sudan will be enough for them to secure a fifth group stage survival in six tournaments and join the Greens in the knockouts.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)