Mahrez double sets Algeria off to winning AFCON 2025 start against Sudan

Mahrez double sets Algeria off to winning AFCON 2025 start against Sudan Former Man City forward Riyad Mahrez scores twice in Algeria’s 3-0 win against Sudan in Group E. Captain Riyad Mahrez has scored in each half as 2019 champions Algeria have eased to a 3-0 win over 10-man Sudan in their opening game at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Mahrez got the opener on Wednesday after just 82 seconds to the delight of the Algerian fans, who made up the vast majority of the 16,115-person crowd at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat. Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4 Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes ‘impossible’ to replace, says Amorim list 2 of 4 Stokes concerned for England’s mental wellbeing on Ashes tour of Australia list 3 of 4 5-time major winner Koepka quits lucrative LIV Golf tour to focus on family list 4 of 4 Liverpool’s Isak faces two months out after ‘reckless’ tackle: Slot The former Manchester City winger, now with Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia, got his and his team’s second goal just after the hour mark, and Ibrahim Maza wrapped up the win late in the game as Algeria started in the best possible fashion in Group E. Among the spectators in the Moroccan capital was France legend Zinedine Zidane, whose parents came from Algeria and whose son Luca was starting in goal for the Desert Foxes. His appearance on big screens in the ground drew huge cheers from Algerian supporters, who were delighted to see their team produce a convincing performance. Algeria were eliminated in the first round without a win at each of the past two AFCON tournaments but wasted no time in breaking the deadlock against the group outsiders. The match was little more than a minute old when Mohamed Amoura’s ball across the penalty box was met by a back-heel from Hicham Boudaoui to tee up Mahrez. He took a touch before firing in. Zidane then did well to save at the feet of Sudan’s Yaser Awad Boshara, but Algeria were by far the better side. Sudan’s chances of getting back into the game were then severely dented when Salaheldin Adil was sent off six minutes before the interval for a second booking for chopping down Rayan Ait-Nouri. Ramy Bensebaini had a goal disallowed for offside moments later, but Mahrez made it 2-0 on 61 minutes as he connected with a lovely outside-of-the-boot assist from Amoura. Mahrez, appearing at his sixth AFCON, now has eight goals at the tournament. He came off to an ovation from the Algerian fans late on. Substitute Maza of Bayer Leverkusen finished from Baghdad Bounedjah’s knockdown with five minutes left to score Algeria’s 100th AFCON goal and make it 3-0. Sudan have now won just once in 17 Cup of Nations matches since lifting the trophy in 1970. Burkina Faso in AFCON late show against Equatorial Guinea Two goals deep in second-half stoppage time saw Burkina Faso snatch a 2-1 victory over 10-man...

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