Captain Riyad Mahrez has scored in each half as 2019 champions Algeria have eased to a 3-0 win over 10-man Sudan in their opening game at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).Mahrez got the opener on Wednesday after just 82 seconds to the delight of the Algerian fans, who made up the vast majority of the 16,115-person crowd at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listThe former Manchester City winger, now with Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia, got his and his team’s second goal just after the hour mark, and Ibrahim Maza wrapped up the win late in the game as Algeria started in the best possible fashion in Group E.Among the spectators in the Moroccan capital was France legend Zinedine Zidane, whose parents came from Algeria and whose son Luca was starting in goal for the Desert Foxes.His appearance on big screens in the ground drew huge cheers from Algerian supporters, who were delighted to see their team produce a convincing performance.Algeria were eliminated in the first round without a win at each of the past two AFCON tournaments but wasted no time in breaking the deadlock against the group outsiders.The match was little more than a minute old when Mohamed Amoura’s ball across the penalty box was met by a back-heel from Hicham Boudaoui to tee up Mahrez. He took a touch before firing in.Zidane then did well …
