AFCON 2025 Kickoff: Algeria Stuns Sudan with a Commanding 3-0 Debut Win

Opening win

A decisive start in Morocco; Sudan pays the price.

Algeria reignited their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 campaign with a commanding 3-0 win over Sudan on Wednesday night, opening Group E at Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

That victory is Algeria's first AFCON triumph since lifting the trophy in Egypt in 2019, when they edged Senegal 1-0 in the final on July 19. They had gone through the previous two editions without a title, collecting a mix of draws and losses.

In 2023 in Ivory Coast, Algeria drew with Angola 1-1 and Burkina Faso 2-2 before losing to Mauritania 0-1. In 2021 in Cameroon, they drew with Sierra Leone 0-0 and were beaten by Equatorial Guinea 0-1 and Ivory Coast 3-1.

That victory puts Algeria top of Group E with 3 points, ahead on goal difference of Burkina Faso, who had earlier beaten Equatorial Guinea 2-1.

Algeria now face Burkina Faso on Sunday in Rabat, a match that could decide quarterfinal qualification and group supremacy, while Sudan meet Equatorial Guinea in Casablanca the same day.

Punchline 1: Even the referee would applaud that finish.

Punchline 2: Algeria won; Sudan learned that triangles can exist outside geometry.