Rabat, Morocco - Riyad Mahrez, the Algerian captain, brushed aside suggestions that his two goals against Sudan in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 opener were a response to critics, stating his focus remains solely on his performance on the pitch. The Desert Foxes secured a comfortable 3-0 victory in their Group E match held in Rabat.
Mahrez opened the scoring in the second minute, setting the tone for Algeria's dominance. Hicham Boudaoui provided a clever backheel pass to Mahrez, who slotted the ball home. Mahrez then scored again in the 61st minute, extending Algeria's lead. Mohamed Amoura delivered a searching pass that Mahrez expertly converted. Ibrahim Maza, a substitute, sealed the victory with a third goal in the 85th minute, assisted by a header from Baghdad Bounedjah.
The match saw Sudan reduced to ten men after Salaheldin Adil received a second yellow card in the 39th minute. Despite trailing, Sudan had moments of ambition, but Algeria maintained control.
Speaking after the match, Mahrez emphasized the importance of starting the tournament with a win. "This wasn't about answering criticism," Mahrez told reporters. "I'm used to it. My reply is to concentrate on my game on the pitch". He added, "The most important thing was to start with a win," highlighting the team's determination to avoid the mistakes of previous AFCON tournaments where they failed to secure victories early on.
Mahrez also downplayed his individual Man of the Match award. "The man of the match trophy is anecdotal today; it's me, tomorrow it will be someone else, but the most important thing is the victory".
With his brace against Sudan, Mahrez became Algeria's all-time leading scorer in the Africa Cup of Nations with eight goals, surpassing Lakhdar Belloumi's previous record of six. This milestone underscores Mahrez's influence on the national team.
Algeria's coach, Vladimir Petkovic, expressed his team's eagerness to prove themselves as AFCON contenders. Mahrez stressed the team came with a clear plan. "We came in with a clear plan to play without overthinking, to win this one and the rest of our group matches to make the path easier," said Mahrez.
Looking ahead, Mahrez cautioned against complacency and called for the team to raise their level for the upcoming match against Burkina Faso. "We need to raise our level in four days against Burkina Faso. I have enough experience to know not to get carried away," he stated.
The match was attended by France legend Zinedine Zidane, whose son Luca Zidane started in goal for Algeria.
Algeria's victory places them at the top of Group E, alongside Burkina Faso. The team now turns its focus to the match against Burkina Faso, aiming to build on this positive start.
