Riyad Mahrez scored twice as Algeria got their Africa Cup of Nations campaign off to a winning start with a comfortable 3-0 victory over 10-man Sudan on Wednesday.
The captain opened the scoring in the second minute and added to the tally on the hour mark against a Sudan side who had to play with 10 men for most of the match. Ibrahim Maza came on as a substitute to score Algeria's third five minutes from time.
Salahedin Adil received a second caution in the 39th minute.
Mahrez showed customary calm and precision in converting both his opportunities and confirming Algeria's status as one of the favourites for success at the tournament in neighbouring Morocco.
Baghdad Bounedjah’s superb pass gave Algeria a dream start with Hicham Boudaoui playing an intelligent back heel to Mahrez, who slotted home from close range.
The second goal came from a clever searching pass from Mohamed Amoura, who used the outside of his boot to curl the ball into Mahrez’s path.
Bounedjah’s header set up Maza for the third with the German-born 20-year-old scoring his first international goal in his ninth appearance for Algeria. It was twice winners Algeria’s 100th goal in tournament history.
Algeria were watched by France World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane, the former Real Madrid coach, whose second son Luca kept goal for Algeria, winning his second cap after switching his international allegiance.
Luca Zidane is a former French junior international but qualified for Algeria through his paternal grandparents.
-Two goals deep in second-half stoppage time saw Burkina Faso snatch a 2-1 victory over 10-man Equatorial Guinea in the opening Group E match.
Despite having a man sent off early in the second half, Equatorial Guinea took a surprise lead in the 85th minute through substitute Marvin Anieboh and looked on course to pull off another of the surprise results that characterised their performance at the last edition of the Cup of Nations.
But Burkina Faso fought back late, with Georgi Minoungou scoring in the fifth minute of stoppage time to equalise before Bundesliga defender Edmond Tapsoba won the points with the last effort of the game.
Burkina had looked the stronger of the two sides but their Premier League attack of Dango Ouattara and Bertrand Traore squandered chances, even after Equatorial Guinea had been reduced to 10 men when Basilio Ndiong caught Traore on his heel with a dangerous tackle five minutes into the second half.
The numerical advantage handed Burkina Faso a myriad of chances at Stade Mohammed V and they did have the ball in the net with a first touch from substitute Lassina Traore, returning to action after a long injury layoff, but his 71st-minute effort was ruled offside.
Equatorial Guinea then threatened another of their trademark upsets when Anieboh headed home from a rare corner with five minutes left.
Equatorial Guinea, who are the second-smallest country at the tournament, proved a sensation at the last Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast, upsetting the hosts 4-0 in the group stage and finishing top of their group, but then losing out to Guinea in the last 16.
Bayer Leverkusen defender Tapsoba proved key in turning the game around, passing for Ouattara, who was felled in the box, but the loose ball was immediately swept up by Minoungou, who tucked it away from a tight angle.
With less than a minute left Burkina Faso launched a last attack through Cyriaque Irie, whose cross from the right was parried by Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Jesus Owono straight onto the head of Tapsoba, who steered the winner home.
Amad Diallo scored the only goal as defending champions Ivory Coast got their campaign under way with a 1-0 win over Mozambique in Group F.
Mozambique goalkeeper Ernan Siluane kept the score goalless at half-time by tipping Yan Diomande's shot over and making a point-blank save to keep out Franck Kessie’s header.
But four minutes into the second half Kessie headed the ball across goal and Manchester United winger Diallo lashed it home from 12 yards out.
Mozambique had chances to equalise but Faizal Bangal put a header wide before, in stoppage time, Geny Catamo went on a mazy run into the box only for Yahia Fofana to save his effort.
Karl Etta Eyong scored his first goal for Cameroon in a 1-0 win over Gabon in their Group F opener.
Just six minutes had elapsed when Bryan Mbeumo collected a wayward headed clearance.
The Manchester United forward turned and threaded the ball to 22-year-old Etta Eyong, who fired through through the legs of Gabon keeper Loyce Mbaba from a tight angle .
Gabon pushed for an equaliser but when their best chance fell to Royce Openda his shot was saved by Devis Epassy.
Additional reporting: PA
