Luca Zidane owned the moment tonight. Algeria beat Sudan 3-0 in AFCON 2025 Group E, and the 26-year-old keeper walked off with a clean sheet. Riyad Mahrez scored twice. The score felt decisive. The story felt even bigger. Zinedine Zidane watched from the stands as his son kept Algeria’s goal locked tight.
A clean sheet with extra weight
I watched Luca Zidane command his area with poise. He was calm with the ball. He was loud without it. He stepped high when needed, then retreated fast to protect his line. His hands were sure on crosses. His feet helped Algeria play out with control.
This was not a night of wild saves. It was a night of control. That matters for a team with title hopes. Algeria defended as a unit. Luca organized the line, set the tempo, and cut off danger early. You could feel his teammates trust him. That bond is gold in a tournament.
Final: Algeria 3, Sudan 0. Mahrez x2, clean sheet for Luca Zidane, three points to steady Group E.
Mahrez lit the fuse, the back line shut the door
Mahrez gave Algeria the lead and the swagger. His first goal eased any nerves. His second stretched Sudan and gave the Desert Foxes room to breathe. From there, the structure took over. Fullbacks stayed honest. The midfield screened. The back line kept its shape.
In that shape, Luca’s voice carried. He pushed the line out after clearances. He kept the tempo high with quick restarts. When Sudan tried to go direct, he came out, gathered, and reset the rhythm. It looked simple. Good goalkeeping often does.
What we saw from Luca
- Confident claims under pressure
- Clean footwork to beat the first press
- Quick, accurate throws to launch counters
- Strong positioning on early crosses
A father and son moment, with national meaning
Zinedine Zidane sat in the stands and watched his son keep a shutout for Algeria. It was a striking picture. The greatest French midfielder of his era, the son of Algerian parents, seeing his child in Algeria’s colors. It felt like a bridge. Family. Heritage. Football.
Luca has been in French youth setups before. His choice to represent Algeria carries weight. It speaks to identity. It speaks to the pull of a shirt, a flag, and the people behind it. Fans felt that tonight. You could hear it in the roar after every save, and in the ovation at full time.
This was not only a game. It was a statement of belonging, and a sign of what comes next.
Why this matters for Algeria
Group play is about margins. Clean sheets shape tournaments. This result tightens Algeria’s grip on the group. It sharpens belief in the spine of the team. When your keeper is steady, everyone plays freer.
The coaching staff will note more than the score. They will see Luca’s timing on high balls, his talk, and his speed off the line. They will also see how the team moved around him. That is the blueprint for knockout football. [IMAGE_2]
The path ahead
Algeria will need balance as the stakes rise. Mahrez, or any scorer, can win a game. A keeper and a back line can win a title. Luca Zidane offers a cool head for tense minutes. He offers clean distribution when legs get heavy. He offers presence when the lights feel harsh.
Now the challenge grows. Opponents will test him with traffic in the box. They will crowd him on set pieces. They will shoot early to catch him between steps. Tonight suggested he is ready. One game does not write a career. It can, however, set a tone.
Watch for Luca’s starting positions on long balls in the next match. If he stays brave, Algeria will squeeze the field.
Conclusion
Algeria got the job done, 3-0, and looked like a contender doing it. Mahrez delivered the fireworks. Luca Zidane delivered the calm. In a tournament that rewards control, his clean sheet will echo beyond tonight. With his father watching and a nation behind him, Luca stepped into the spotlight and did the simple things right. That is how goalkeepers earn trust. That is how teams build runs. This felt like the start of something real for Algeria, and for a keeper ready to make his own name.
