Mahrez Guides Algeria to Comfortable AFCON Win Over Sudan

Skipper Riyad Mahrez netted once in each half as the 2019 title holders Algeria secured a straightforward 3-0 victory against 10-man Sudan in their first match of the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday.

Mahrez opened the scoring after only 82 seconds, much to the joy of the Algerian supporters who formed the bulk of the 16,115 attendees at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

The ex-Manchester City forward, currently at Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, added his team's second goal shortly after the 60th minute, and Ibrahim Maza sealed the result in the closing stages as Algeria kicked off Group E in ideal style.

Among those watching in the Moroccan city was French icon Zinedine Zidane, whose parents hailed from Algeria and whose son Luca was in goal for the Desert Foxes.

His image on the stadium screens sparked massive applause from the Algerian crowd, who must have been thrilled by their side's solid display.

"I am pleased we picked up the three points. It has been a while since we managed that at the AFCON, so our priority today was victory," Mahrez commented.

"The squad aims to reach the final. We are not here just to participate."

He continued: "With my background, I understand this is merely one game, and we must stay grounded."

Algeria had exited in the group stage without a victory in the previous two AFCON editions, but they quickly took control against the tournament minnows.

Barely a minute in, Mohamed Amoura's cross into the box was flicked on with a back-heel by Hicham Boudaoui for Mahrez. He controlled it before slotting home.

Zidane then made a fine stop at the feet of Sudan's Yaser Awad Boshara, though Algeria dominated proceedings.

Goal tally

Sudan's hopes of mounting a comeback took a hit when Salaheldin Adil received a red card six minutes from the break for his second yellow after fouling Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Ramy Bensebaini saw a goal ruled out for offside soon after, but Mahrez extended the lead to 2-0 in the 61st minute with a fine outside-of-the-boot finish from Amoura's pass.

Mahrez, on his sixth AFCON outing, has now scored eight times in the competition, a national record for Algeria. He left the pitch to warm cheers from the fans later.

Replacement Maza, from Bayer Leverkusen, converted Baghdad Bounedjah's header with five minutes remaining to notch Algeria's 100th AFCON goal and complete the 3-0 scoreline.

Sudan have managed only one win in 17 Nations Cup fixtures since their 1970 triumph.

In the earlier Group E clash, Burkina Faso overturned a deficit to defeat 10-man Equatorial Guinea 2-1 with late strikes in Casablanca.

Basilio Ndong was dismissed for Equatorial Guinea shortly after the interval, yet they seemed poised for success when substitute Marvin Anieboh nodded in on 85 minutes.

Still, Georgi Minoungou levelled in the fifth minute of stoppage time, and Leverkusen centre-back Edmond Tapsoba netted a thrilling winner in the 98th minute.