The Desert Foxes took control early at the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium and secured three valuable points in their Group I opener.
Jaouen Hadjam gave Algeria the perfect start with a goal in only the second minute, putting the hosts ahead almost immediately. The early strike settled any nerves and allowed the home side to dictate the tempo for much of the first half.
Zambia responded after the break. Fashion Sakala equalised in the 57th minute, briefly restoring parity and giving the visitors hope of a positive result.
However, Algeria regained the initiative quickly. Ibrahim Maza restored the lead in the 67th minute, and Anis Hadj Moussa added a third goal seven minutes later to put the result beyond doubt.
The Desert Foxes controlled large periods of the match, enjoying the majority of possession and creating the clearer chances. Zambia worked hard to stay competitive but were ultimately unable to contain Algeria’s attacking quality once the hosts regained their rhythm.
The victory provides a strong start for Algeria as they look to secure qualification for the 2027 finals, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The result also leaves Zambia with an opening defeat as they begin their own campaign.
Both teams will now turn their attention to the next round of fixtures in the group. Algeria will aim to build on this positive result, while Zambia will look to respond and collect points in their remaining matches.
The win underlines Algeria’s credentials as one of the stronger sides in the qualifying phase and sets a solid foundation for the remainder of their campaign.