Wednesday Dec 24, 2025. 19:27
Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez led from the front as he played a starring role in their 3-0 victory over 10-man Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations at the Moulay Hassan Stadium on Wednesday.
Mahrez broke the deadlock after just two minutes and he struck again on 61 minutes to move up to second place in the all-time scoring charts for his county, taking him within nine goals of Islam Slimani’s record of 45.
Ibrahim Maza rounded off the scoring five minutes from time as Vladimir Petkovic’s side went above Burkina Faso on goal difference at the top of Group E.
The Fennecs are viewed as one of the favourites to lift the AFCON trophy in Morocco and the got off to a dream start when Mahrez received the ball from Hicham Boudaoui inside the box and drilled his shot into the bottom left corner of the net.
However, they struggled to build on that early goal and the Falcons of Jediane almost hit back nine minutes later as Yaser Awad unleashed a first-time shot inside the packed 18-yard area that Luca Zidane had to save with his legs.
Awad threatened again on 38 minutes with a shot from range that was too close to Zidane to cause the goalkeeper much problems, but Kwesi Appiah’s side were then left with an uphill task when Salah Adel received his marching orders for a second bookable offence five minutes before half-time.
Algeria nearly made them pay instantly as Ramy Bensebaini slotted home on 42 minutes, but Sudan breathed a sigh of relief when the goal was ruled out for offside.
Alnil didn’t have a save to make in the entire first half and he was finally called into action on 54 minutes to keep out a free-kick from Fares Chaibi just outside the box.
However, the goalkeeper had to take the ball out the back of his net again eight minutes when Mahrez brought a cross under control on the edge of the area and produced a clinical finish.
Mohamed Amoura would test Alnil with a shot from range on 65 minutes and he was unfortunate to see the ball come back off the right post in the 73rd minute after directing an effort towards goal from a cross.
Maza sealed the win five minuites from time with a tame shot from inside the area that Alnil failed to deal with, while Jaouen Hadjam wasted a good chance in stoppage time when he fired wide of the right post after gathering a pass in his stride.
Algeria (1) 3 (Mahrez 2′, 61′, Maza 85′)
Sudan (0) 0
Algeria: L. Zidane, R. Belghali, A. Mandi, R. Bensebaini, R. Ait-Nouri (J. Hadjam 61′), H. Boudaoui, I. Bennacer (A. Boulbina 78′), R. Mahrez (A. Hadj Moussa 78′), F. Chaibi (I. Maza 60′), M. Amoura (R. Zerrouki 82′), B. Bounedjah.
Sudan: M. Alnil, Y. Awad, M. Karshoum, M. Ering, B. Khamis, S. Adel, A. Abdalla (A. Zayed 70′), A. Taifour, A. Raouf (A. Nouh 66′), M. Eisa (M. Abdelrahman 67′), A. Eisa (Y. Muzamel 68′).