Mahrez brace powers Algeria to commanding 3 0 AFCON opening win

Algeria announced their return to form with a clinical 3 0 victory over Sudan in Rabat, a performance that combined individual brilliance, tactical control and an early disciplinary turning point. Captain Riyad Mahrez struck twice, one of them within the opening two minutes, and Ibrahim Maza added a late finish to seal the win and place the 2019 champions top of Group E.

The match was decided almost before many spectators had taken their seats. Mohamed Amoura supplied a cross that Hicham Boudaoui backheeled into Mahrez's path. Mahrez took a touch and curled a left foot finish into the net within around 82 seconds, giving Algeria an immediate platform from which to impose themselves. That early goal forced Sudan to chase the game and quickened the tempo in Algeria's favour.

Sudan's cause was compounded midway through the first half when a player named Salaheldin picked up a second booking for a foul on Rayan Ait Nouri, leaving his side to compete with ten men for the remainder of the match. Sources diverge on the precise surname, with some records using Adil and others recording Alhassan, but accounts agree on the timing of the sending off and the foul that prompted it. Reduced to ten, Sudan struggled to create sustained pressure, though goalkeeper Monged Elneel produced two late saves that prevented an even larger margin.

Mahrez added a second just after the hour mark, again benefiting from Amoura's service, when a through ball created space and the former Manchester City winger finished neatly to double the lead. The veteran, now with Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia, was reported as 34 years and 306 days old when he completed the brace, making him the oldest player to score an AFCON brace since Ziad Tlemcani in 1998. His captaincy and influence were evident, orchestrating play and providing the decisive moments.

The third goal arrived late when Baghdad Bounedjah's knock down was converted by Ibrahim Maza. That strike was recorded as Algeria's 100th goal in Africa Cup of Nations competition, a milestone that underscores the country's long standing pedigree on the continental stage.

Beyond the scoreline, the match had symbolic resonance. Algeria's convincing opening performance offered a corrective to back to back group stage eliminations at the last two editions and will bolster momentum as the team eyes deeper progression. The presence of France legend Zinedine Zidane in the stands, and his son Luca Zidane starting in goal for Algeria, illustrated the tournament's cross border appeal and the blending of football cultures that AFCON increasingly cultivates.

There are also commercial and strategic implications. Mahrez's prominence while playing in Saudi Arabia points to the shifting economic geography of football, where Gulf investment amplifies visibility and alters player pathways. Algeria have already secured qualification for the expanded 2026 World Cup, a fact that, combined with encouraging displays here, strengthens their marketability and bargaining power in sponsorship and broadcasting discussions.

For Sudan, the result reinforced long standing struggles in the competition. Historical perspective remains stark, with only one win in 17 AFCON matches since their 1970 triumph. Algeria, by contrast, will view this opening day performance as a statement of intent in a tournament where experience, star power and tactical cohesion can translate into both sporting and commercial dividends.