Algeria vs Sudan: Mahrez sets new record as Les Fennecs start AFCON 2025 campaign with victory

Riyad Mahrez rolled back the years, scoring a brace to help Algeria start their AFCON 2025 campaign with a 3–0 victory against Sudan.

Mahrez first goal was his seventh for the Foxes in the AFCON, setting a new record for the most goals scored by an Algerian in the competition. He beat Lakhdar Belloumi long standing record, cementing his legacy as an Algerian football legend.

The match barely had time to settle when Riyad Mahrez struck in the 2nd minute, calmly finishing into the bottom corner after good build-up play to give Algeria a dream start. 

Sudan were dealt a major blow in the 39th minute when Salaheldin Adil was shown a second yellow card and sent off, leaving them with ten men and facing an uphill battle for the rest of the game. Algeria capitalised on the numerical advantage, intensifying their foothold in the game.  

After the break, Algeria extended their advantage. In the 61st minute, Mahrez was once again the decisive figure, finishing from close range after being teed up in the box.

Shortly before full time, substitute Ibrahim Maza added a third in the 85th minute, converting from close range after a knockdown to seal the emphatic 3–0 win. 

Meanwhile, legendary French midfielder and former Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane was in attendance to watch his son Enzo Zidane, who is Algeria's goalkeeper, leveraging his father's ancestry.