The Greens scored against Sudan with a complete hat-trick in their first match for the 35th edition of the African Cup of Nations, which will be held in Morocco from December 21, 2025 until January 18, 2026.
The national team finished six full matches without a victory in the continental competition, which extended for two consecutive rounds. On the floor of Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, on Wednesday evening.
The Desert Warriors were at the top of Group E, with a goal difference from the Burkinabé team that won against Equatorial Guinea (2-1) in the first match.
FULL-TIME! 🇩🇿🇸🇩
A smooth start for Algeria with a 3-0 win in their opening match. 🤩#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | @tecnomobile pic.twitter.com/kZVT5VxyPV
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 24, 2025
Petkovic Options
Coach Vladimir Petkovic put his trust in Granada’s Spanish goalkeeper Luca Zidane from the beginning.
While the duo Ramy Bensebaini and Issa Mandi were involved in the defense axis, Rafik Belghali occupied the right side and Rayan Ait Nouri occupied the left side.
The best player in the 2019 African Cup, Ismail Bennacer, regained his position in the middle of the defensive field.
Dinamo Zagreb’s Croatian player, Hicham Boudaoui, was accompanied, while Petkovic entrusted the task of creating play and supporting the attackers to Fares Shaybi.
The trio, Riyad Mahrez, Mohamed El Amin Amoura and Baghdad Bounedjah, led the Greens’ attacking line.
An early goal and a red card for the opponent
The Greens surprised the Jedi Falcons at the start of the match, as captain Mahrez opened the scoring in the first minute.
The Saudi Al-Ahly player completed an organized attack, which was started by Bounedjah, who passed a ball that broke the opponent’s lines and reached Gomorrah. The latter quickly sent it to Boudawi.
In the middle of the French field in Nice, the Sudanese defense deceived the ball by returning the ball to Mahrez, who came from behind, and the latter shot it forcefully past goalkeeper Munjed Al-Nil.
The national team controlled the ball during the first half, but ineffectively, as there were no opportunities to score despite Sudan’s numerical deficiency in the last five minutes.
Referee Ghislain Acho sent off striker Salaheddine Adel after receiving two yellow cards, the first for an intervention on Ramy Bensebaini and the second for Rayan Ait Nouri.
Riyad Mahrez opens the scoring early for Algeria against Sudan! ⚽🔥
A perfect start for the Desert Warriors in the African Cup of Nations! 🇩🇿💪#Africa_Cup of Nations | #AFCON2025 | #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/tN5JknWT9S— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) December 24, 2025
The team goes at full speed in the second half
Algerian fans are accustomed to seeing a different face in most of the second half of the Desert Warriors matches under the leadership of coach Vladimir Petkovic.
Mahrez’s teammates did not deviate from the rule against Sudan, as the players performed well, especially on the offensive side.
Mahrez benefited from an outside-foot pass from the brilliant Mohamed El-Amin Ammoura in the 60th minute, finishing it perfectly after the defender dribbled the ball in a reverse direction and shot it into the opposite corner of the goalkeeper.
Adel Riyad is the second best scorer in the history of the Greens, Abdelhafiz Tasfaut, after his brace against Sudan (36).
Riyad Mahrez adds the second goal for himself and the Algerian national team after a wonderful assist from Amoura! ⚽🔥
A distinctive artistic shot… Which is more beautiful in your opinion: the goal or the pass? 🤔✨#Africa_Cup of Nations |#AFCON2025 | #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/dnFrcUhvar
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) December 24, 2025
Petkovic’s changes, such as replacing Fares Shaybi with Ibrahim Mazza in the 60th minute, contributed to giving the team a positive boost.
The German Bayern Leverkusen player strengthened the national team’s control over the midfield and freed the attackers by rising every time to support.
Mazza succeeded in scoring the third goal in the match and the 100th goal in the history of the Greens in the Africa Cup of Nations finals in the 86th minute.
The second stage saw Vladimir Petkovic make five complete changes.
The Bosnian replaced Joan Hajjam in the place of Rayan Ait Nouri and Maza Awad Shaybi, while Adel Boulbena replaced Ismail Bennacer, Anis Haj Moussa replaced Riyad Mahrez, and Ramez Zerrougui replaced Mohamed El Amin Ammoura.
The national team members are credited with avoiding cards in the Sudan match, which allowed them to continue the group stage journey comfortably.
In the second round, the Desert Warriors will face Burkina Faso, next Sunday, at 18:30.
Ibrahim Mazza adds the third goal for the Algerian national team against Sudan! ⚽🔥
Clear and decisive superiority for the desert warriors!
Algeria 3️⃣ – 0️⃣ Sudan #Africa_Cup of Nations |#AFCON2025 | #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/lCUzuyGjRh
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) December 24, 2025
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