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Algeria kicked off their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Sudan in Rabat. Captain Riyad Mahrez led the charge by scoring twice, while Ibrahim Maza sealed the win late in the game. This result marked Algeria’s first AFCON triumph in six years and boosted their Group E standing.
Mahrez wasted no time in asserting dominance. He fired home the opener just two minutes into the match after Hicham Boudaoui delivered a clever backheel pass. The goal energized the packed Stade Prince Moulay El Hassan, where fans cheered Algeria’s every move.
Sudan struggled to respond amid Algeria’s relentless pressure. Goalkeeper Monged Elneel made several saves, but his team faced a setback when midfielder Salaheldin Adil received a red card in the 39th minute for a second yellow. This left Sudan with 10 players for the second half.
Algeria capitalized on their numerical advantage after the break. Mahrez doubled the lead in the 61st minute with a composed finish inside the box, courtesy of Mohamed Amoura’s precise through-ball. Amoura nearly added another when he rattled the post with a powerful volley.
Maza entered as a substitute and put the game beyond doubt in the 85th minute. He latched onto Baghdad Bounedjah’s knockdown just outside the six-yard box and slotted the ball past Elneel. This strike represented Algeria’s 100th goal in AFCON history.
Debutant goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of French legend Zinedine Zidane, shone in net for Algeria. He kept a clean sheet with key saves, including a one-on-one denial of Sudan’s Awad Boshara early on. Zidane’s composure helped anchor a defense featuring Rayan Aït-Nouri and Ramy Bensebaini. Coach Vladimir Petkovic praised his team’s focus after the match. He highlighted Mahrez’s leadership, noting the 34-year-old’s brace matched his total goal involvements from 19 previous AFCON appearances.
