Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez says his two-goal display in a convincing 3–0 win over Sudan at the Africa Cup of Nations was not a personal statement to silence his critics, but simply part of the team’s wider mission to start strongly.
The 34-year-old forward, now playing his club football with Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia after leaving Manchester City, struck twice in Rabat, Morocco, to put the Desert Warriors firmly in control of their Group E opener. Teenager Ibrahim Maza added a third, scoring his first international goal to complete a dominant Algerian performance.
Mahrez’s brace also saw him become Algeria’s all-time leading scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations, with eight goals in the competition. His contribution comes after a period of scrutiny, following Algeria’s disappointing group-stage exits at the last two tournaments, despite lifting the trophy in 2019.
Speaking after the match, Mahrez played down any talk of personal redemption. “This wasn’t about answering criticism. I’m used to it,” he told reporters. “My reply is to concentrate on my game on the pitch. We came in with a clear plan to play without overthinking, to win this one and the rest of our group matches to make the path easier.”
