Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez has warned that Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final against Nigeria will be far from straightforward, stressing that anything could happen when the two teams meet.
The Desert Foxes secured their spot in the last eight after a hard-fought Round of 16 victory over DR Congo on Tuesday, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown with the Super Eagles.
Speaking after the win, Mahrez acknowledged Nigeria’s reputation on the continental stage and emphasized that Algeria are well aware of the strengths of their upcoming opponents.
“Nigeria? We know them well, the match won’t be easy,” said Mahrez, who previously starred for Leicester City and Manchester City, in comments to reporters.
Gossip News Now reports that his remarks reflect the respect Algeria hold for Nigeria, a team consistently competing in the latter stages of AFCON and one of Africa’s most successful football nations.
The upcoming clash also evokes memories of the dramatic 2019 AFCON semi-final in Egypt, where Mahrez scored a last-minute free kick to hand Algeria a 2-1 victory over Nigeria, eliminating the Super Eagles and sending the North Africans to the final.
When asked if fans could expect another decisive moment from him, Mahrez remained measured but optimistic.
“Another last-minute free kick? We will see, anything is possible,” he said.
Saturday’s fixture promises to be one of the highlight matches of the quarter-final stage, featuring two sides with rich AFCON histories and squads packed with experience and talent.
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