Algeria: Mahrez warns his teammates ahead of Saudi Arabia clash
Mahrez sounds the alarm: Saudi Arabia, “it will be different and more difficult”
After Algerias 31 victory over Zimbabwe in Jeddah, Riyad Mahrez stopped in the mixed zone to deliver a clear, forward-looking message. The Desert Foxes captain stressed that this first match is just a starting point in preparation for AFCON 2025, reminding everyone of the importance of maintaining a high-performance mindset.
These two statements reflect his determination to keep the squad under positive pressure, despite the impressive performance against Zimbabwe.
Asked about Youcef Belaïlis serious injuryhe suffered a torn cruciate ligamentMahrez didnt hide his emotion.
he lamented, paying heartfelt tribute to a key squad member and close friend.
Despite this setback, Mahrez prefers to look ahead. He emphasizes the need to learn from every match and to use these games to keep building team cohesion. In his view, the performance against Zimbabweachieved with several new players and a reshuffled starting elevenis an encouraging sign.
With such an experienced leader at the helm, the Desert Foxes now approach the test against Saudi Arabia with ambition and focus, determined to build strong momentum ahead of AFCON 2025.