Mahrez brace powers Algeria to commanding AFCON win over Sudan

Algeria on Wednesday laid down an early marker with a commanding display, capitalizing on Sudan’s missed opportunities and a decisive red card to secure a convincing victory.

The Desert Foxes wasted no time in asserting their dominance, opening the scoring inside three minutes. Sustained early pressure paid off when captain Riyad Mahrez showed his quality with a calm and precise finish to put Algeria ahead.

That early strike allowed Algeria to dictate proceedings, forcing Sudan to push forward in search of an equaliser and leaving gaps that the North Africans were eager to exploit.

Sudan, however, were not without moments of promise. Abuaagla Abdalla attempted to catch the goalkeeper off guard with a speculative effort from more than 35 metres, but his shot drifted harmlessly wide after a build-up involving Bakhit Khamis.

Their best chance of the encounter came later in the first half when Abdel Raouf fired narrowly over the bar from close range, following a well-worked move set up by Yaser Awad.

Sudan’s task became significantly more difficult shortly before the interval. In the 39th minute, Salaheldin Alhassan was dismissed after receiving a straight red card, leaving his side to contest the remainder of the match with ten men.

With the numerical advantage, Algeria tightened their grip on the game after the restart. Hicham Boudaoui tested the Sudanese defence with a long-range effort, while Baghdad Bounedjah squandered a clear chance from inside the penalty area as the pressure intensified.

Mahrez soon doubled Algeria’s advantage with a composed left-footed finish, before completing his brace in the 61st minute — his second goal of the tournament — to effectively put the contest beyond Sudan’s reach.

Reduced in numbers, Sudan struggled to mount a meaningful response, despite occasional long-range attempts, including another effort from Abdel Raouf.

Algeria sealed the result late on when Ibrahim Meza found the net in the 85th minute, adding a third goal that reflected their dominance.

The Desert Foxes comfortably managed the closing stages, blending defensive organisation with attacking efficiency to underline their strength in Group E of 1XBET AFCON 2025.

Led by Mahrez’s influential performance, Algeria delivered a statement victory marked by discipline, control, and clinical execution from start to finish.