Mahrez Shines as Algeria Defeats 10-Man Sudan 3-0 in Opener

Algeria began their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over Sudan on December 24, 2023. Captain Riyad Mahrez scored twice in a match that saw Sudan reduced to 10 men for a significant portion of the game. This dominant performance positions Algeria as a strong contender for the tournament, which is being hosted in Morocco.

Mahrez opened the scoring just two minutes into the match, capitalizing on a brilliant pass from Baghdad Bounedjah. Bounedjah set up the play with an intelligent back heel to Hicham Boudaoui, who then assisted Mahrez, allowing him to slot the ball home from close range. This early goal set the tone for Algeria, who maintained control throughout the match.

The situation worsened for Sudan when defender Salahedin Adil received a second yellow card in the 39th minute, making him the second player to be sent off in the tournament. Playing a man down, Sudan struggled to contain Algeria’s offensive onslaught. Mahrez added his second goal in the 60th minute, finishing off a beautiful curled pass from Mohamed Amoura.

Algeria sealed their victory with a third goal just five minutes before full time. Substitute Ibrahim Maza scored his first international goal, benefitting from a header by Bounedjah. Maza’s goal marked Algeria’s 100th goal in Africa Cup of Nations history, a milestone celebrated by the team.

Despite Algeria’s dominance, Sudan goalkeeper Monged Elneel made several crucial saves, including stopping a potential fourth goal from Adil Boulbina in stoppage time. Elneel’s performance, although overshadowed by the scoreline, demonstrated resilience amid a challenging match.

The match garnered notable attention, including from French World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane, who was present to watch his son, Luca Zidane, in goal for Algeria. Luca, who previously played for the French junior team, switched his allegiance to Algeria through his paternal grandparents and earned his second cap in this tournament.

With this victory, Algeria tops Group E with three points, ahead of Burkina Faso, who won 2-1 against Equatorial Guinea earlier in the day. Algeria’s next challenge will be against Burkina Faso in Rabat on Sunday, where the stakes will be high for both teams as they aim to advance further in the tournament.

This opening match not only highlighted Mahrez’s skill but also reinforced Algeria’s status as a formidable team in the Africa Cup of Nations, setting the stage for an exciting tournament ahead.