Riyad Mahrez delivered an impressive captain’s performance as Algeria began their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign in commanding fashion, defeating Sudan 3-0 in Rabat on Wednesday, Bold Sports reports.
The former Manchester City winger scored in each half to give Algeria a comfortable 2-0 lead before substitute Ibrahim Maza wrapped up the win with a late goal, securing all three points for the Desert Foxes.
Mahrez got his first goal inside the first two minutes, capping off a slick team move. Baghdad Bounedjah initiated the attack before Mohamed Amoura released Hicham Boudaoui with a first-time pass. Boudaoui then produced an intelligent backheel into Mahrez’s path, and the 34-year-old showed his composure by calmly finding the net.
Sudan’s task became even more difficult in the 39th minute when Salah Adil was sent off after picking up a second yellow card, having already been booked earlier in the contest. The numerical advantage allowed Algeria to take complete control of the match, dictating the tempo and limiting Sudan to few meaningful chances.
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Algeria’s superiority was reflected again just after the hour mark. Amoura produced a delightful trivela pass to Mahrez, who cut inside onto his left foot in trademark fashion and finished emphatically past goalkeeper Monged El Neel to double the lead, before Ibrahim Maza wrapped up the victory with a late strike in the 85th minute to make it 3-0.
The goal was Mahrez’s 36th for Algeria, moving him to second on the nation’s all-time scorers list behind Islam Slimani. It also saw him become Algeria’s leading scorer in Africa Cup of Nations history with eight goals.
The victory sends Algeria to the top of Group E ahead of their next fixture against Burkina Faso on Sunday. Burkina Faso also opened their campaign with a win, edging Equatorial Guinea 2-1 in a dramatic encounter.
Meanwhile, Sudan will look to bounce back when they face Equatorial Guinea on the same day, with both sides still in search of their first points of the tournament.
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