RABAT, Morocco (AP) – France great Zinedine Zidane looked after his goalkeeper son’s safety as Algeria began their African Cup of Nations campaign with a 3-0 win over Sudan in a 10-a-side competition on Wednesday.
Algeria, one of the favorites to win the tournament, moved to the top of Group E with Riyad Mahrez scoring twice and 20-year-old Ibrahim Maza scoring his first international goal.
Zidane had come to the sweet-scented Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat to watch his son Luca Zidane play in goal for Algeria, and was greeted with cheers from the crowd every time his son appeared on the big screen.
Luca Zidane chose to represent his grandfather’s country after receiving an invitation from the Fenech Foxes, but was given his chance to shine due to the injury to Alexandre Oukija, who was otherwise expected to start.
Algeria wasted little time on Wednesday, with Mahrez opening the scoring in the second minute after being set up by Hisham Boudaoui’s unselfish play.
Immediately afterwards, Zidane was brought in to deny Yasser Awad a break.
Sudan had to play all qualifying matches away from home. Almost 1,000 days of civil war It’s devastating the country.
The Algerian looked confident and intense, but the big chance went to the other end, with Abdel-Rauf firing after Zidane produced another save from Awad.
Just before the break, when it started to rain, Salah Adil received a second yellow card for a foul on Rayan Ait Nouri and was sent off, otherwise he would have been sent off.
However, Algerian fans, who make up the majority, had to be patient.
Mahrez scored in the 61st minute with Mohamed Amoula’s superb cross from the outside of his boot, and Baghdad Bounedjah came on as a substitute to score in the 85th minute, heading the ball into the path of Maza.
casablanca drama
In the opening game of Group E, Edmond Tapsoba scored two goals in stoppage time as Burkina Faso completed a remarkable comeback to beat 10-a-side Equatorial Guinea 2-1.
Tapsoba’s side were pushing hard for the first goal after Basilio Ndong was sent off early in the second half after hurting Bertrand Traore’s ankle.
Then, in the 85th minute, Marvin Anibault surprised the Stallions by diving into Carlos Akapo’s cross and scoring a looping header.
Giorgi Minungo equalized in the fifth minute of stoppage time, and Tapsoba headed home the winning goal three minutes later.
Defending in Group F later on Wednesday Champion Ivory Coast They began their title defense against Mozambique in Marrakech, while five-time champions Cameroon played their opening game against Gabon in the coastal city of Agadir.
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Associated Press at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations
