African champions Algeria commenced their FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 campaign with a 4-0 thumping of Sudan.
The Desert Foxes took the lead in the 11th minute through Bounedjah Baghdad.
Fans at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium did not have to wait too long as Baghdad doubled the lead in the 37th minute after he was set up by Yacine Brahimi.
The hapless Sudanese were soon picking the ball out of the net on 43 minutes as Benlamri Djamel fired another goal to leave the North Africans 3-0 up at the break.
The second half was damage limitation for the stunned Sudanese who tried to ensure the goal tally did not become a cricket score.
But their hopes were short-lived as Soudani El Arabi scored in the 46th minute to make clear the intentions pf the 2019 AFCON champions.
The win puts Algeria firmly in control of Group D.
African double
The Pharaohs of Egypt needed VAR and a penalty to pip hard-fighting Lebanon 1-0 in the second Group D match.
The 7-times African champions got the deciding goal on 69 minutes after Lebanese defender Robert Melki brought down wing-back Ahmed Fatouh in the box.
Mohammed Ashfa dispatched the spot kick just beyond keeper Mata Moustafa to seal a hard-fought victory and 3-points.
Lebanon must dust itself and try again against a rampant Algeria, while Egypt can seal a quarter-final place with a routine win over neighbours Sudan.
