AFCON 2025: Mahrez double powers Algeria past Sudan

AFCON 2025: Mahrez double powers Algeria past Sudan

Riyad Mahrez scored a brace as Algeria comfortably dispatched 10-man Sudan 3–0 in their opening Group E match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Wednesday.

Mahrez opened the scoring after just 82 seconds, delighting the Algerian supporters who made up the vast majority of the 16,115 crowd at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

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The Al-Ahli winger added his second goal shortly after the hour mark before Ibrahim Maza wrapped up the victory late on, as Algeria made a strong start to their AFCON campaign.

Among the spectators in the Moroccan capital was France legend Zinedine Zidane, whose parents hail from Algeria and whose son, Luca Zidane, started in goal for the Desert Foxes.

Zidane’s appearance on the stadium’s big screens drew loud cheers from Algerian fans, who were further buoyed by their team’s dominant display.

“I am happy to have got the three points. It has been a long time since we did that at the AFCON, so the most important thing for us was to win today,” Mahrez said.

“As a team, we want to get to the final. We have not come here to make up the numbers.”

I have enough experience to know that this is just one match, and we need to keep our feet on the ground,” he added.

The convincing victory provides a timely boost for the Desert Foxes as they look to re-establish themselves among the continent’s elite.

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.

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