Algeria won an important victory by beating its guest Uganda 2-0 at a victorious start to its qualifiers for the 2023 African Nations Cup, on Saturday. Senegal also beat its guest Benin 3-1, and Mauritania defeated Sudan 3-0.

Issa Mendi scored the first goal for Algeria after following a rebound from the crossbar in the 28th minute.

Issa Mandy opens registration and grants progress to Algeria ⚽️🇩🇿# African Nations Cup Qualifiers # Algeria pic.twitter.com/dn9Thv2fmo

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) June 4, 2022

Youssef Belaili added the second goal with a brilliant individual effort and a powerful ground shot in the 80th minute.

🤩 Youssef Blaili dribble in a wonderful way and imprints on a global goal 🇩🇿 ⚽️

👏👏👏 Bravoooooo Blaili 👏👏👏 # African Nations_Cup_Qualifiers #Algeria pic.twitter.com/qK3Nqdc1C8

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) June 4, 2022

Less than 5 minutes after Algeria's first goal, goalkeeper Mustafa Zaghba - in his first official participation with the Greens - saved a penalty kick by Ugandan striker Farouk Mia.

Mustafa Zaghba saves a penalty in his first official participation with the Algerian national team 🇩🇿👏# African Nations Cup Qualifiers # Algeria pic.twitter.com/7rnZ2LowNb

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) June 4, 2022

Algeria has 3 points at the top of Group F, in which Tanzania tied 1-1 with Niger in the opening round as well.

This is Algeria's first official match after failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

Algeria will play Tanzania in the second round on Wednesday.

Mane leads Senegal to victory over Benin

In another match, Senegal beat Benin 3-1 in the first round of Group 12 competitions in the African Nations qualifiers.

Sadio Mane assumed the championship role for the Senegalese team, after scoring 3 goals in the 12th and 60th minutes from two penalties, and 22, while Benin's only goal, Junior Olaytan, scored in the 88th minute.

The match witnessed the expulsion of Sissi Dalmeida, the player of the Benin national team, in the 51st minute.

The Senegalese team won its first 3 points in the qualifiers, and the Benin team remained without a score.

Sadio Mane became the historical top scorer for Senegal after raising his score to 32 goals, in a new international achievement achieved by the Liverpool striker in 2022, after winning the African Nations Cup and qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar.

🔝 Sadio Mane becomes Senegal's all-time top scorer 🇸🇳

💬 In your opinion, where will his destination be next season? #African Nations_Cup_Qualifiers |

# Senegal_boys #AFCON2023Q pic.twitter.com/Mi7DjJSKsU

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) June 4, 2022

Mane sparked widespread controversy after he hinted in a pre-match press conference that he might leave Liverpool this summer, but he was not affected by that on the field and things became easier for Senegal after Benin's Sine Dalmeida was sent off early in the second half.

Mauritania hardens Sudan

Mauritania also defeated Sudan 3-0 in the first round of Group Nine competitions in the tournament qualifiers to be held in Ivory Coast next year.

🥅 Abu Bakr Kamara takes advantage of the weakness of the Sudanese defense and scores the second goals of Mauritania #African Nations_Cup_Qualifiers |

#Mauritania |

#Sudan #AFCON2023Q pic.twitter.com/dMI81z0XA5

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) June 4, 2022

The goals of the Mauritanian team, Abou Bakar Kamara, scored in the 27th minute, from a penalty kick, and the 30th, and Abdullah Mahmoud in the 77th minute.

The Mauritanian team won its first 3 points in the qualifiers, and the Sudanese team remained without credit at the bottom of the standings.