The Algerian national team began its journey in the current edition of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations by delivering a strong football performance through which it sent a strong message to its competitors, after achieving a wide and well-deserved victory of three goals against its brother, the Sudanese national team , in the match that brought them together on Wednesday evening, as part of the first round of the group stage.
The match witnessed a remarkable performance from the captain of the "Desert Warriors" and star of Al-Ahli Saudi FC, Riyad Mahrez , who once again proved his immense talent and decisive influence. Mahrez wasted no time, opening the scoring very early in the second minute, giving his team the advantage and psychological control from the outset. The Algerian star continued his brilliance, extending the lead with a second goal in the 61st minute, before rising star Ibrahim Maza the goal fest by scoring the third goal in the 85th minute, confirming the Greens' dominance.
A perfect start and a quest for the continental title
This resounding victory has bolstered the hopes of Algerian fans to see their national team return to the podium, recapturing the spirit of their 2019 triumph. This strong start is a positive indicator of the coach's squad's technical and physical readiness, especially given the high level of competition in African football in recent years. Winning the opening match provides the players with a tremendous morale boost and alleviates the early pressures that often accompany tournaments.
The group's position and the challenges of the next round
With this resounding victory, Algeria secured their first three valuable points, taking sole possession of the top spot in their group on goal difference ahead of Burkina Faso , who sit second with the same number of points but a lower goal difference. Meanwhile, Sudan (the Falcons of Jediane) remain at the bottom of the table with zero points and must quickly reassess their strategy to turn things around in the remaining matches.
All eyes are now on the decisive second round, where Algeria faces a tough test to break the tie for first place when they meet Burkina Faso at 8:30 PM next Sunday. This match is considered an "early final" for the group, determining the group leader most likely to qualify. Meanwhile, Sudan will be looking to bounce back and revive their hopes of remaining in the tournament when they face Equatorial Guinea at 6:00 PM on the same day, in a must-win match for the Sudanese team.
