Algeria vs Sudan Prediction: 7/2 tip for Mahrez-inspired mauling

| Wednesday 24th December 2025, 7:00am

Wednesday 24th December 2025, 7:00am

Group E’s heavyweight contenders get underway in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday when two-time winners Algeria take on outsiders Sudan in Rabat (16:00 local, 15:00 GMT, live on 4seven).

Having lifted the trophy in 1990 and 2019, the Desert Foxes come into this one on the back of a near-perfect qualifying campaign. Read on for my Algeria vs Sudan predictions, along with the latest team news and Betfred’s match odds.

Algeria vs Sudan Betting Tips

Handicap +2: Algeria -2 @ 7/2
Riyad Mahrez Anytime Goalscorer @ 6/4

*Odds correct as of the time of publication

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Team News

Algeria’s former Lazio head coach Vladimir Petkovic is likely to start off the tournament with free-scoring Wolfsburg centre-forward Mohamed Amoura leading the line.

Behind him, Al-Ahli’s ex-Leicester City and Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez captains the Desert Foxes, while Baghdad Bounedjah is an extra forward option as an experienced goal-getter at both club and international level.

Sudan come into the 2025 tournament having won only one Afcon fixture since lifting the trophy back in 1970. This is just their sixth finals participation in the intervening time, despite 27 editions having taken place over those 55 years.

Coach James Kwesi Appiah chooses from a largely Sudan-based squad, with Mohamed Abdelrahman up top causing the most headaches for opponents. He should partner John Mano in the forward line.

Algeria vs Sudan Predicted Lineups

Algeria: Zidane; Belghali, Mandi, Belaid, Ait-Nouri; Bennacer, Zerrouki; Mahrez, Moussa, Aouar; Bounedjah
Sudan: Abooja; Zayed, Saeed Ahmed, Karshoum, Yousif; Mozamil, Taifour, Khidir, Omer; Mano, Abdelrahman

Algeria vs Sudan Odds

Algeria are naturally the big favourites to win in Rabat, and they are priced at 2/5 by Betfred. That implies a 71.4% probability.

Sudan can be backed at 8/1 for the victory, with the draw a 16/5 chance.

Bounedjah is the 10/3 favourite to bag the first goal, with Abdelrahman at 9/1 to give Sudan a shock lead.

Algeria vs Sudan Stats

Sudan’s only win in normal time in eight previous meetings came 30 years ago with a 2-0 victory in an Afcon qualifier in April 1995 (D4, L3 of the other 7)
Beyond Abdelrahman’s 23 international goals, Sudan’s squad combine for only 30 in total. That is fewer than both Mahrez (34) and Bounedjah (35) in the Algeria lineup
Mahrez has 12 goal involvements in 20 appearances this season (5 goals, 7 assists), including a penalty in Algeria’s last international friendly against Saudi Arabia

Today's Football Fixtures

Handicap +2: Algeria -2 @ 7/2

While there have been too many blow-outs so far at this event, Algeria ought to be far too good against a Sudan side who are very much wet behind the ears at this sort of level.

The Desert Foxes have players who have competed at the top of the game all across the globe, whereas Appiah’s selections will come from a more insular pool of options.

With Amoura and Bounedjah proven goalscorers at the head of their team, and Mahrez an always-dangerous presence from out wide, Algeria should have more than enough to get three points on the board without much fuss.

And if they score in the first half, one has to expect they’ll go on and put the game well and truly to bed in the second half. That makes the 7/2 about them winning by three or more a value proposition.

Algeria vs Sudan - Handicap +2

Algeria -2

7/2

Bet Here

Odds correct at time of publishing.

Football Odds

Riyad Mahrez Anytime Goalscorer @ 6/4

We’ve seen it before. A total of 228 times before, in fact. That’s the extent of the damage Mahrez has done for club and country down the years, with 34 of those goals coming in an Algeria shirt.

That chop inside onto his stronger left foot is not a stealthy tactic, since he’s done it constantly throughout his career. But both the eye test and the stats tell you that it’s one thing knowing it’s coming and quite another to attempt to stop it.

So just as he’s succeeded so often over his impressive career, I fully expect Mahrez to make Sudan pay by netting in this Afcon opener at the 6/4 Betfred are offering.

Algeria vs Sudan - Anytime Goalscorer

Riyad Mahrez

6/4

Bet Here

Odds correct at time of publishing.

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