""This wasn't about answering criticism," Mahrez told reporters. "I'm used to it. My reply is to concentrate on my game on the pitch. "We came in with a clear plan to play without overthinking, to win this one and the rest of our group matches to make the path easier.""
""The most important thing was to start with a win," Mahrez said. "The last two AFCONs, we didn't start good. Today, we really wanted to make it happ"
Riyad Mahrez scored two goals to lead Algeria to a 3-0 Group E victory over Sudan, with Ibrahim Maza adding a late third. Mahrez reached eight Africa Cup of Nations goals, surpassing Lakhdar Belloumi as Algeria's top scorer at the tournament. Mahrez recorded four goals and two assists in his last four national-team appearances, matching his previous 19-match goal involvements. Heavy criticism preceded the tournament, but Mahrez shut out negative comments and concentrated on his on-pitch performance. Algeria sought a positive start after failing to win at AFCON 2021 and 2023 and prioritized beginning the campaign with a win.
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