Algeria opened their AFCON 2025 Group E campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over Sudan in Rabat on Wednesday.
This was the first Africa Cup of Nations meeting between the two nations, although they had faced each other eight times previously. Algeria came into the contest unbeaten in open play against Sudan, with four wins and four draws recorded from those encounters.
Algeria made a flying start and were ahead inside the opening two minutes. Riyad Mahrez struck calmly following good work from Hicham Boudaoui, becoming Algeria’s all-time leading AFCON scorer with his seventh goal in the competition. The early breakthrough set the tone as Algeria dominated possession and territory.
Sudan threatened occasionally, and in the 38th minute Yaser Awad forced a fine save from Luca Zidane after being set up by Salah Adi. However, Sudan’s task became significantly harder just a minute later when Salaheldin Alhassan was shown a straight red card, reducing them to 10 men before halftime.
Algeria took full control after the break. They continued to press forward, with Boudaoui trying his luck from distance and Baghdad Bounedjah missing a close-range chance as the pressure intensified.
Mahrez then doubled Algeria’s lead with a composed left-footed finish, and just after the hour mark he struck again to complete his brace and claim his eighth career AFCON goal, effectively sealing the result.
Sudan attempted to respond through long-range efforts, including one from Abdel Raouf, but the numerical disadvantage and Algeria’s control of the game made a comeback unlikely.
Algeria capped off the performance in the 85th minute when Ibrahim Meza added a third goal, confirming a dominant win and underlining their strength in Group E.
Next up, Algeria will face Burkina Faso, while Sudan will look to regroup ahead of their clash with Equatorial Guinea on December 28.
