The national football team got off to a strong start in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025), dominating Sudan 3-0 (halftime 1-0) in the Group E opening match of the group stage, played on Wednesday afternoon.
Determined to regain victory in this continental tournament, which they had not tasted since the 2019 final against Senegal (1-0), the Algerian team started the match at full throttle and managed to take the lead in the very first minute. Ryad Mahrez skillfully outwitted the opposing goalkeeper with a precise left-footed shot that nestled into the far corner (1-0), following a brilliant three-player combination.
Riding the momentum, the Algerian team continued to attack with the same intensity and created several clear scoring opportunities, particularly through Mohamed Amine Amoura and Baghdad Bounedjah, though they failed to turn them into goals.
The Sudanese team had also posed a threat early in the game, forcing goalkeeper Lucas Zidane to pull off brilliant saves to prevent any setbacks, notably in the 10th and 37th minutes against Yaser Awad.
Unfortunately, the sending-off of Salah-Eddine Adil in the 39th minute, after receiving a second yellow card, had a negative impact on their performance.
It was this numerical disadvantage that allowed the national team to dominate in the second half, all under the watchful eyes of former star Zinedine Zidane and his sons, who were all present in the stands to witness Lucas and the team’s opening performance in AFCON 2025.
At the hour mark, true to his role as captain, playmaker Ryad Mahrez once again took responsibility and added a second goal with a powerful straight shot, following a brilliant pass from Mohamed Amine Amoura.
With this brace, the former Manchester City playmaker becomes the national team’s new leading scorer in the AFCON finals, with eight goals, surpassing the legendary Lakhdar Belloumi, who scored six.
Late in the game, Vladimir Petkovic made a few substitutions that proved timely and decisive, as they paid off almost immediately, notably bringing on Ibrahim Maza, who, on almost his first touch, scored the third goal with a close-range shot, following a precise header from Baghdad Bounedjah, who had leapt higher than his opponent at the penalty spot.
The score could have been even higher if not for some missed opportunities, notably Amoura’s beautiful shot in the 72nd minute that struck the post, as well as two clear chances for substitute Boulbina during added time.
Overall, Zidane’s teammates can take pride in having made a “strong start” in this tournament, awaiting their next face off against Burkina Faso, a showdown between the two main favorites in the group for first place.
This match promises to be the Algerian team’s first “real test” in the tournament, as Burkina Faso’s Stallions are on a different level.
In fact, they also got off to a strong start in their AFCON, overturning Equatorial Guinea 2-1 in the other Group E opening match.
