Riyad Mahrez scored twice as Algeria launched their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a comfortable 3-0 Group E win against 10-man Sudan in Rabat.
The Desert Warriors were ahead within two minutes when the former Leicester and Manchester City winger ran on to Hicham Boudaoui’s clever backheel and fired past the Sudan keeper Monged Abuzaid.
The Algeria keeper Luca Zidane, son of the former Real Madrid and France superstar Zinedine Zidane, who was in the crowd at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium, did well to deny Yaser Awad as he attempted to round him. He then saved from Awad again before Abdel Raouf fired over with Sudan pushing for a way back into the game.
However, their hopes suffered a significant blow six minutes before the break when the midfielder Salah Adel was dismissed for a second bookable offence after a challenge on Manchester City’s Rayan Aït-Nouri.
Monged was beaten for a second time with 61 minutes gone when Mahrez accepted Mohamed Amoura’s fine pass and stepped inside the defender Mustafa Karshoum before finding the back of the net. The substitute Ibrahim Maza completed the scoring with his first senior international goal from Baghdad Bounedjah’s knock-down five minutes from time.
Earlier in the day, Edmond Tapsoba headed Burkina Faso to a dramatic 2-1 victory against 10-man Equatorial Guinea as they struck twice in stoppage time to snatch the points.
The Stallions dominated the first half of the opening Group E encounter at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, with Sunderland’s Bertrand Traoré and Brentford’s Dango Ouattara causing problems down the flanks, but ultimately had nothing to show for their efforts at the break.
Equatorial Guinea’s problems mounted within five minutes of the restart when the defender Basilio Ndong was dismissed after a review of his clumsy challenge on Bertrand Traoré. Jesús Owono, the Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper, had to save from Ouattara after he had been played in by Gustavo Sangaré.
Lassina Traoré, on as a substitute, had a 71st-minute strike ruled out for offside as Burkina Faso piled on the pressure, but Marvin Anieboh put their opponents ahead against the run of play with a firm header from Carlos Akapo’s 85th-minute corner.
However, there was a sting in the tail when Georgi Minoungou, who had also come off the bench, levelled five minutes into added time after Ouattara had carved his way into the box. Tapsoba then headed home the winner three minutes later after Owono had palmed away Cyriaque Irié’s cross.
Côte d’Ivoire, the holders, squandered a number of chances but Amad Diallo’s goal early in the second half was enough to beat Mozambique 1-0. In the opening Group F game in Morocco, the Ivorians battled to break down their opponents in a competitive first half but took firm control after the break without converting the many chances they created.
Diallo side-footed the ball into the net in the 49th minute to ensure the three-point haul in rainy conditions but the scoreline would have been a lot more emphatic had the Ivorians been sharper in front of goal.
Amad Diallo scores for Côte d’Ivoire against Mozambique. Photograph: Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images
Wilfried Zaha, playing his first international in more than two years after his surprise recall for the Cup of Nations finals, wasted several chances and Franck Kessie had two-point-blank efforts saved by the Mozambique goalkeeper Ernan.
The Ivorian substitute Vakoun Bayo also had an opportunity with an easy header in front of goal but somehow put it wide and in the 89th minute Bayo had an effort cleared off the line with Ernan caught well out of his goal. Mozambique brought on the winger Dominguez as a second-half substitute at the age of 42 years, one month and six days, becoming the oldest outfield player in tournament history, behind only the former Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who was 44 when he played in the 2017 final.
Mozambique are still to win a match at the finals, stretching back to their tournament debut in 1986. This is their sixth appearance, with a record of four draws and 12 losses.
Cameroon put aside recent woes to open their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 1-0 victory over neighbours Gabon on Wednesday as Karl Etta Eyong’s early goal secured a much-needed win.
The Spanish-based striker squeezed his shot under Gabon goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba in the sixth minute after being set up by Bryan Mbeumo, the goal confirmed after a VAR check.
Cameroon put aside recent woes to open their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 1-0 victory over their neighbours Gabon as Karl Etta Eyong’s early goal secured a much-needed win. The Spanish-based striker squeezed his shot under Loyce Mbaba in the sixth minute after being set up by Bryan Mbeumo, the goal confirmed after a video assistant referee check.
Karl Etta Eyong celebrates scoring what proved Cameroon’s winner against Gabon. Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images
Cameroon fired Marc Brys as coach three weeks ago and left the goalkeeper André Onana out of the squad for the tournament, having missed out on World Cup qualification last month. But they will be pleased with a winning start in a fast-tempo game in which they did have the better of the chances.
Mbeumo was particularly effective, setting up several chances for teammates, the best of which Junior Tchamadeu blasted wide of target early in the second half. The substitute Frank Magri headed against the Gabon crossbar 11 minutes from the end in another good opportunity for the Indomitable Lions.
Gabon started without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who only joined up with his teammates in Morocco this week after suffering a thigh injury, but he and Mario Lemina were brought on in an early double substitution in the 32nd minute as Gabon looked to get back into the match. Denis Bouanga had a handful of half-chances but Aubameyang was largely ineffectual for Gabon.
