Sudan’s coach Kwesi Appiah faced a tough opening at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, as his team fell 3-0 to a dominant Algeria in Group E at Rabat’s Moulay Hassan Stadium.
The Ghanaian tactician, leading the Falcons of Jediane, admitted the challenge straight after the match.
Appiah praised his opponents’ all-around strength, saying, “We were up against a stronger side. This Algerian team has serious quality in every aspect. We will do everything to bounce back in the next game.”
Algeria struck early through captain Riyad Mahrez in the second minute, off a clever Hicham Boudaoui assist, setting the tone. Sudan went down to 10 men before halftime when Salah El-Din Adel picked up a second yellow. Mahrez added a second goal in the 61st, with Ibrahim Maza sealing it late via Baghdad Bounedjah.
Appiah’s side showed moments of fight but couldn’t match Algeria’s depth. Next up, Sudan face Equatorial Guinea on December 28, with recovery key in a tight group alongside Burkina Faso.
