Algeria's forward #7 Riyad Mahrez (L) celebrates scoring the team's second goal with Algeria's midfielder #14 Hicham Boudaoui during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Group E football match between Algeria and Sudan at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat on December 24, 2025. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)
Rabat: Captain Riyad Mahrez scored in each half as 2019 Champions Algeria eased to a 3-0 win over 10-man Sudan in their opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday.
Mahrez got the opener after just 82 seconds to the delight of the Algerian fans who made up the vast majority of the 16,115 crowd at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
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 on 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 will have been delighted to see their team produce a convincing performance.
"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," said Mahrez.
"As a team we want to get to the final. We have not come here to make up the numbers."
He added: "I have enough experience to know that this is just one match and we need to keep our feet on the ground."
