Home Football AFCONMahrez leads Algeria to commanding AFCON 2025 opening win over Sudan

Mahrez leads Algeria to commanding AFCON 2025 opening win over Sudan

Dec 25, 2025 02:16 PM GMT+00:00

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Mahrez leads Algeria to commanding AFCON 2025 opening win over Sudan

Captain Riyad Mahrez delivered a masterclass performance as Algeria began their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 campaign in emphatic fashion, cruising to a 3–0 victory over Sudan in Rabat on Wednesday night.

The former Manchester City winger struck in each half, setting the tone for a dominant Group E display that also saw Ibrahim Maza add a late third goal against a Sudan side reduced to ten men before halftime.

Lightning start sets the mood

Algeria wasted no time asserting their authority. Just 82 seconds into the match at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Mahrez opened the scoring to the delight of the predominantly Algerian crowd.

A clever back-heel from Hicham Boudaoui, following a low delivery by Mohamed Amoura, teed up the captain inside the area. Mahrez took a composed touch before rifling the ball home, immediately underlining Algeria’s intent to banish memories of disappointing early exits in the last two AFCON tournaments.

Sudan goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of French football legend Zinedine Zidane, was forced into early action, denying Yaser Awad Boshara in a rare Sudanese attack. However, Algeria remained firmly in control, dictating play and creating the clearer chances.

Red Card tilts the balance further

Sudan’s hopes of mounting a comeback were dealt a major blow six minutes before the break when Salaheldin Adil was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Rayan Aït-Nouri.

Moments later, Algeria thought they had doubled their lead through Ramy Bensebaini, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Even so, the Desert Foxes went into halftime comfortably ahead, having dominated possession and territory.

Mahrez makes history again

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Algeria patiently probing until Mahrez struck again just after the hour mark.

Amoura once more played a key role, delivering a perfectly weighted outside-of-the-boot assist that Mahrez met with a precise finish to make it 2–0. The goal took Mahrez’s AFCON tally to eight, making him Algeria’s all-time leading scorer at the tournament.

Appearing at his sixth Africa Cup of Nations, the Al-Ahli winger was later substituted to a standing ovation from supporters, having once again led by example.

Maza seals milestone victory

Substitute Ibrahim Maza, of Bayer Leverkusen, wrapped up the win five minutes from time, finishing calmly after Baghdad Bounedjah knocked the ball into his path.

The goal was particularly significant, marking Algeria’s 100th goal in AFCON history, a fitting milestone on a night that signalled a confident fresh start for the 2019 champions.

Mahrez: “We came here to go all the way”

Speaking after the match, Mahrez stressed both satisfaction and caution.

“I am happy to have got the three points. It is a long time since we did that at the AFCON, so the main thing for us was to win today,” he said.
“As a team, we want to get to the final. We have not come here to make up the numbers. But this is just one match, and we must stay grounded.”

Group E Round-Up

Earlier on Wednesday, Burkina Faso produced a dramatic late turnaround to defeat Equatorial Guinea 2–1 in Casablanca. Despite playing with ten men after Basilio Ndong was sent off, Equatorial Guinea took the lead late on before conceding twice deep into stoppage time, including a 98th-minute winner from Edmond Tapsoba.

After failing to win a single match at each of the last two AFCON tournaments, Algeria’s commanding opener sends a clear message to the rest of the field. With Mahrez pulling the strings and depth across the squad, the Desert Foxes look determined to re-establish themselves among Africa’s elite.