CAF Africa Cup of Nations
Algeria 3 – 0 Sudan FT
Riyad Mahrez, a Premier League champion with Leicester City and Manchester City, currently plays for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia [Getty Images]
Riyad Mahrez scored two goals to lead Algeria to a convincing 3-0 victory against 10-man Sudan in their opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group E in Rabat.
Having won the title in 2019, Algeria had struggled in the previous two tournaments, failing to move past the group stage.
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Mahrez set the tone early with a signature left-footed curling shot from 12 yards, expertly set up by Hicham Boudaoui’s clever backheel pass.
Sudan threatened through Yaser Awad Boshara, who forced Algeria’s goalkeeper Luca Zidane into a couple of saves; however, the challenge became steeper when Salah Adel was shown a red card just six minutes before half-time for a second yellow.
Just after the hour mark, Mahrez extended the lead with a composed finish following a perfectly timed through-ball from Mohamed Amoura.
Amoura nearly made it 3-0, hitting a powerful volley against the post.
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Sudan’s goalkeeper Monged Elneel made two great saves in stoppage time to deny substitute Adil Boulbina from increasing the scoreline further.
With this win, Algeria tops Group E on goal difference, ahead of Burkina Faso, who triumphed over Equatorial Guinea 2-1 earlier in the day. Algeria will stay in Rabat to face Burkina Faso on Sunday (17:30 GMT), while Sudan heads to Casablanca to play Equatorial Guinea at 15:00 GMT on the same day.
Algeria secures three points
After their disappointing performance at the 2023 finals in Ivory Coast, Algeria parted ways with Afcon-winning coach Djamel Belmadi and brought in former Switzerland manager Vladimir Petkovic.
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Petkovic successfully guided Algeria to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, leveraging the synergy between Mahrez and Amoura in their offensive strategies.
In a stadium full of vocal supporters, Petkovic could not have hoped for a better beginning, allowing him to substitute Mahrez with 12 minutes left in the match.
Every Algerian attack was met with enthusiastic cheers, while goalkeeper Zidane—son of World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane—looked stead of mind throughout the match.
The 27-year-old, who plies his trade with Spain’s Granada in the second tier, made his full international debut just last month after switching his allegiance from his birth country and marked his AFCON debut following an injury to Alexis Guendouz.
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Sudan’s qualification to the finals was commendable, as they have had to play all their matches outside the country due to civil unrest in their capital, Khartoum, since April 2023.
However, facing a side ranked 83 places higher in the FIFA rankings proved too tough following Mahrez’s opening goal and the red card.
Coach James Kwesi Appiah may rightfully criticize the first booking that led to Adel’s dismissal, which came from a seemingly trivial foul on Ramy Bensebaini.
Nevertheless, Algeria proved far too strong overall.