The City midfielder produced a captain’s display for his country in Algeria’s opening Group C clash in Cairo, Egypt, leading from the front and causing Kenya constant problems.
And Mahrez set the seal on a fine individual display by doubling the North African side’s lead just before half time after an earlier 34th minute penalty by Baghdad Bounedjah had given them the lead.
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Mahrez struck on 43 minutes, guiding home a left-footed shot from the centre of the box.
The result left Algeria level at the top of Group C on three points with Senegal, who beat Tanzania 2-0 earlier on Sunday.
Algeria’s next match is against the Senegalese on Thursday, kick-off 6pm BST.
