In their Group E opener at the Stade Prince Moulay Al Hassan in Rabat on December 24, 2025, two-time champions Algeria delivered a dominant performance, defeating Sudan 3-0 to claim three crucial points. The Desert Foxes wasted no time asserting control. Captain Riyad Mahrez  opened the scoring in just the second minute, finishing coolly after a clever assist from Hicham Boudaoui. The Al-Ahli star doubled the lead in the 61st minute, showcasing his enduring quality with a cli