Riyad Mahrez warned Algeria not to get carried away even as they made one of the most emphatic starts to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Captain Mahrez scored in each half as 2019 champions Algeria eased to a 3-0 win over 10-man Sudan in Rabat.
Mahrez got the opener after just 82 seconds to the delight of the Algerian fans who made up the vast majority of the 16,115 crowd at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium.
Now with Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia, Mahrez got his and his team's second goal just after the hour mark and Ibrahim Maza wrapped up the win late on as Algeria started in the best possible fashion.
“I’m happy we got the three points, it’s been a long time since we’ve done that at Afcon,” Mahrez said.
“We didn’t necessarily play well, but we won, and that’s what matters. We need to step up our game in four days. I have enough experience to know we shouldn’t get carried away.”
Those words of caution framed a night that underlined both Algeria’s renewed authority on the continental stage and the fine margins facing defending champions Ivory Coast, who also opened with victory but in far less commanding fashion.
Algeria's start breathed fresh life into a tournament tha
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