"RABAT, Morocco -- France great Zinedine Zidane watched his goalkeeper son's safe hands as Algeria started its Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 3-0 win over 10-man Sudan on Wednesday. Riyad Mahrez scored twice and the 20-year-old Ibrahim Maza scored his first international goal for Algeria, one of the tournament favorites, to move top of Group E."
"Zidane, who was at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium to see his son Luca Zidane playing in the Algeria goal, was feted by the crowd every time he was shown on the big screens. Luca Zidane opted to represent his grandfather's country after getting the Fennec Foxes' invitation and he's been given his chance to shine because of an injury to Alexandre Oukidja, who might have been expected to start otherwise. Luca Zidane, who plays for Granada in Spain's second tier, was called into action shortly afterward to deny Yaser Awad on a break."
"Sudan had to play all its qualification games away from home because of the near 1,000-day old civil war ravaging the country. Though the Algerians looked confident and played with intensity, the big chances fell at the other end, with Zidane saving again from Awad before Abdel Raouf fired over. Salah Adil was sent off just as the rain began to fall shortly before the break with his second yellow card for a foul on Rayan Aït-Nouri, who would have been through otherwise."
Algeria opened its Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 3-0 victory over 10-man Sudan at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium. Riyad Mahrez scored twice and 20-year-old Ibrahim Maza added his first international goal to secure the win. Luca Zidane started in goal for Algeria after Alexandre Oukidja was injured, and made key saves including denying Yaser Awad. Sudan played under the shadow of a near 1,000-day civil war that forced qualification matches away from home. Salah Adil received a second yellow and was sent off before halftime. Algerian supporters dominated the crowd and the team showed intensity and control.
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