"Al-Ahli Saudi star Riyad Mahrez inspired Algeria to a commanding 3–0 victory over Sudan in their opening Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group E match on Wednesday, scoring twice to set the tone for the tournament. Footage shows supporters of both teams arriving at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat ahead of kick-off, along with scenes from the post-match press conference featuring Mahrez and the coaches of both sides. Mahrez, who was named Man of the Match, underlined Algeria’s ambitions after the win. "First of all, the team is the most important. Of course, we want to reach the final, that is the goal whenever we start any tournament, and we don’t participate just for the sake of it," he said. Sudan head coach Kwasi Appiah pointed to the difficult circumstances facing his squad, highlighting the lack of domestic competition in recent years. “Over the past three years, there has been no league. That’s why it has become very difficult to pick players,” Appiah explained. The match also marked a notable appearance for Luca Zidane, the son of French football legend Zinedine Zidane, who started in goal for Algeria. Head coach Vladimir Petkovic praised the young goalkeeper’s contribution. “He gave the team the necessary confidence, played excellently with his feet, and was good in coming out and dealing with the balls,” Petkovic said. Mahrez opened the scoring in the second minute and doubled Algeria’s lead in the 61st, before Ibrahim Maza sealed the victory with a third goal in the 85th minute. In the same group, Burkina Faso edged Equatorial Guinea 2–1 in their opening fixture."