Riyad Mahrez scored twice to power Algeria’s 3-0 win over Sudan, while Amad Diallo secured a narrow victory for defending champions Ivory Coast in their AFCON openers.
Riyad Mahrez led Algeria to a convincing 3-0 victory over 10-man Sudan at the Moulay Hassan Stadium, marking a powerful start to their AFCON 2025 campaign.
The Al Ahli winger opened the scoring in just 82 seconds and added a second after the hour mark, before Ibrahim Maza sealed the win late on.
Despite the commanding scoreline, the captain remained cautious about the team’s prospects following two previous group-stage exits, stating, “I have enough experience to know we shouldn’t get carried away.”
In Group F, defending champions Ivory Coast secured a narrower 1-0 win against Mozambique in Marrakech.
Manchester United forward Amad Diallo provided the decisive moment shortly after halftime, capitalising on a knockdown to keep the Elephants’ title defense on track.
While the match featured a historic appearance by Mozambique’s 42-year-old Elias Pelembe, the holders were forced to rely on defensive discipline to withstand a resilient opponent and secure all three points in wet conditions.
The final set of opening group fixtures also saw Cameroon edge Gabon 1-0 through an early Karl Etta Eyong strike.
Meanwhile, Burkina Faso produced the most dramatic comeback of the tournament so far, scoring twice in stoppage time to defeat Equatorial Guinea 2-1.
As the giants of African football begin to assert their authority, Mahrez’s veteran perspective set the tone for the Desert Foxes: “We didn’t necessarily play well, but we won, and that’s what matters.”