Ivory Coast kicked off their defense of the Africa Cup of Nations title with a hard-fought victory, while Zinedine Zidane celebrated his son’s impressive performance for Algeria in their opening match. On March 15, 2024, Algeria defeated Sudan 3-0, with notable contributions from Riyad Mahrez, who scored twice, and 20-year-old Ibrahim Maza, who netted his first international goal.
Zinedine Zidane, the legendary French footballer, was present at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat to witness his son, Luca Zidane, shine as the goalkeeper for Algeria. The crowd warmly welcomed Zidane each time he appeared on the big screen, underscoring his status in the football community. Luca, who chose to represent Algeria, was given the opportunity to start due to an injury to Alexandre Oukidja.
Algeria wasted no time in asserting their dominance. Mahrez opened the scoring just two minutes into the match, capitalizing on a clever setup from Hicham Boudaoui. Luca Zidane quickly found himself in action, making key saves, including a critical stop against Yaser Awad. The Sudanese team faced significant challenges, having played all their qualification matches away from home due to a protracted civil conflict lasting nearly 1,000 days.
Sudan saw their troubles compound when Salah Adil received a red card shortly before halftime after a second yellow for a foul on Rayan Aït-Nouri. Despite the setback, Sudan had their chances, with Zidane again saving a shot from Awad before Abdel Raouf missed a crucial opportunity.
In the second half, Mahrez struck again in the 61st minute, scoring from a brilliant cross by Mohammed Amoura. Maza capped off the scoring in the 85th minute, finishing off a well-placed header from Baghdad Bounedjah.
Ivory Coast and Cameroon Also Secure Wins
In a separate match, the defending champions Ivory Coast secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Mozambique. The Elephants’ captain, Franck Kessié, provided a crucial assist with a header that set up Manchester United’s Amad Diallo for the decisive goal shortly after the break.
Ivory Coast, who claimed the title in a dramatic fashion during the last edition, struggled to convert additional chances, with Vakoun Bayo seeing two opportunities blocked in the closing stages of the match.
Cameroon, five-time champions, also began their campaign on a positive note, defeating neighboring Gabon 1-0. Karl Etta Eyong scored the only goal of the match in the sixth minute, squeezing a shot past Gabon goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba after receiving a pass from Bryan Mbeumo. This win was particularly significant for Cameroon, who had faced recent challenges, including the firing of coach Marc Brys three weeks prior and the exclusion of goalkeeper Andre Onana from the tournament squad.
In a thrilling encounter in Casablanca, Burkina Faso completed an incredible comeback against Equatorial Guinea, scoring two goals in stoppage time to win 2-1. Marvin Anieboh put Equatorial Guinea ahead with a looping header in the 85th minute, but Burkina Faso equalized through Georgi Minoungou in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Edmond Tapsoba then clinched the victory with a header just three minutes later.
With the tournament well underway, the excitement continues to build as teams vie for the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations title.
