Algeria Kickstarts Africa Cup Campaign with Thrilling 3-0 Win Over Sudan, Ivory Coast Defends Title with Hard-Fought Victory
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RABAT, Morocco - The Africa Cup of Nations kicked off with a bang on Wednesday as Algeria and Ivory Coast each secured opening wins in their respective group matches. In Group E, Riyad Mahrez scored twice, and young goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of the legendary Zinedine Zidane, made a memorable debut as Algeria thrashed Sudan 3-0. The 20-year-old Mahrez set the tone early with a goal in the second minute, and Algeria maintained its intensity throughout the match, with Mohammed Amoura providing a brilliant assist for Mahrez's second goal in the 61st minute. Substitute Ibrahim Maza sealed the win with his first international goal in the 85th minute. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast, the defending champions, began its title defense with a 1-0 win over Mozambique in a rain-soaked game in Fez. Amad Diallo scored the decisive goal in the second half, striking the ball into the far corner after Franck Kessie headed it back. The Elephants had several chances to increase their lead but ultimately secured a hard-fought victory. In other Group E action, Burkina Faso staged a dramatic comeback to beat Equatorial Guinea 2-1, thanks to Edmond Tapsoba's late goals. Cameroon also opened its campaign with a win, although the details of the match were not available. These early wins set the stage for what promises to be an exciting Africa Cup of Nations tournament, with several top contenders vying for the coveted title. Stay tuned for further updates and analysis from the tournament.
