Riyad Mahrez rolled back the years with a deadly double as Algeria kicked off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a commanding 3-0 win over Sudan. But beyond the three points, a tantalising prospect is now on the horizon: the Algerian captain has put himself on a trajectory to smash the record for most goals in a single Afcon tournament.
The Desert Foxes, desperate to banish the ghosts of two successive group stage exits, were handed the perfect start in Rabat by their skipper. After 12 minutes, he curled a beautiful left footed effort into the far corner, set up by a clever Hicham Boudaoui backheel. He made it two just after the hour, showing all his old composure to slot home Mohamed Amoura’s incisive pass. The contest was effectively over when Sudan’s Salah Adel saw red for a second booking before the break.
“I feel sharp, the team is playing with confidence,” Mahrez said post match. “The most important thing is the win, but of course as an attacker you want to score. We have the quality to go far.” His manager, Vladimir Petkovic, was full of praise: “Riyad showed his class. He is a leader for us, and when he plays like this, he inspires everyone.”
The numbers now make for fascinating reading. Mahrez’s brace means he’s already halfway to the record for a single Afcon tournament, a remarkable 9 goals, jointly held by Zaire’s Mulamba Ndaye (1974) and Congo’s Pierre Ndaye Mulamba (1974). With Algeria looking potent and at least five more matches possible if they reach the final, the record is firmly in his crosshairs. Should he maintain this scoring rate, he’ll not only lead his nation to glory but etch his name into continental history.
Algeria’s performance was about more than just Mahrez, however. The understanding between him and Wolfsburg striker Amoura was telepathic, while the debutant keeper Luca Zidane son of French legend Zinedine, looked assured between the sticks. The third goal, a neat finish from Ibrahim Maza, marked Algeria’s 100th goal in Afcon history, a symbolic milestone in a fresh start under Petkovic.
For Sudan, the defeat was a harsh lesson. They showed brief spirit, but the red card and Algeria’s superior quality told. They’ll need a rapid turnaround against Equatorial Guinea. Algeria, meanwhile, sit top of Group E on goal difference ahead of a crunch clash with Burkina Faso on Sunday. All eyes will be on Mahrez again not just for the points, but for the next step in a potential record breaking charge. The momentum is with him, and the history books are waiting.
