AFCON Shock: Sudan's Red Card Dents Opening Against Algeria

Match events

Sudanese defender Salah-eddine Adeil was sent off with a red card during the Algeria clash in the opening AFCON group match today, in Rabat.

Gabonese referee Pierre Atcho, overseeing the match at Stade Moulay Hassan, sent Adeil off after a reckless challenge on Aït Nouri, the Algerian forward.

The dismissal came in the 39th minute after the Sudan player picked up a second yellow, his first having been shown in the 14th minute.

With that red card, Sudan added another negative record to its Africa Cup history, a drought that has lasted more than a dozen years.

In fact, Adeil becomes only the second Sudanese player ever to be sent off in Africa Cup of Nations history, following Saif Massawe’s red against Zambia in 2012.

Riyad Mahrez, Algeria’s standout, struck the fastest goal of this edition, just 81 seconds in, finishing off a pass from Hicham Boudaoui.

Mahrez's early strike and aftermath

Punchline 1: Red card, 39 minutes.

Punchline 2: Sudan’s defense files a complaint.