Riyad Mahrez carries familiar responsibility as Algeria begins another Africa Cup of Nations campaign, with the coming weeks offering a chance to reset a troubling recent record. The Desert Warriors arrive in Morocco knowing that past glory alone will not guarantee future success.
Riyad Mahrez carries familiar responsibility as Algeria begins another Africa Cup of Nations campaign, with the coming weeks offering a chance to reset a troubling recent record. The Desert Warriors arrive in Morocco knowing that past glory alone will not guarantee future success.
Their continental triumph in 2019, sealed in Cairo, remains a high point, yet the tournaments that followed brought frustration rather than celebration. As Algeria prepares to face Sudan in Rabat in their Group E opener on Wednesday, the focus is on whether this generation can finally turn promise into progress.
Algeria last tasted victory at the finals six years ago, when Mahrez played a defining role under Djamel Belmadi. At that time a Manchester City player, he delivered three goals during the tournament, including a dramatic stoppage-time strike against Nigeria in the semi-final.
That campaign ended with a narrow final win over Senegal, led by Sadio Mane, and secured the nation’s second continental crown. Since then, however, results have dried up, with no victories recorded across six matches at the 2021 and 2023 editions.
Back-to-back exits at the group phase fell far below expectations, turning the upcoming opening match in Morocco into more than just a routine fixture. Ending the drought quickly could shape Algeria’s entire tournament trajectory.
Even as he approaches his 35th birthday in February, Mahrez continues to provide quality and control for both club and country. Now representing Al Ahli after moving to Jeddah in the summer of 2023, he has maintained the technique and awareness that once defined his Premier League years with Leicester City and Manchester City.
Though quieter in profile than some other high-profile arrivals in Saudi Arabia, his impact has been undeniable. Across a little over two seasons in the Roshn Saudi League, he has amassed 45 goal involvements and leads the competition in chances created, while also topping the assists chart with 25.
Beyond the numbers, his importance is clear within Al Ahli’s tactical framework. Matches frequently flow through his decision-making, underlining why his absence during the international break is felt so strongly at the club level.
While domestic trophies have eluded Al Ahli so far, continental success arrived in May when they lifted the AFC Champions League Elite title. Mahrez again played a central role, contributing nine goals and eight assists during the campaign.
Although teammate Roberto Firmino collected the tournament’s MVP award, Mahrez’s influence was evident throughout, particularly as coach Matthias Jaissle refined his approach following Galeno’s mid-season arrival. The final stages in Jeddah showcased Al Ahli at their most effective.
Reflecting on the triumph, Mahrez compared it with earlier achievements, including his Premier League title and the 2019 AFCON win, describing each as carrying its own unique meaning. That hunger to make an impact remains, even as Al Ahli sits fourth in the league, eight points behind leaders Al Nassr after nine rounds.
For now, club ambitions are on hold. Algeria gains a proven match-winner for the next few weeks, and his sustained output in Saudi Arabia and Asia suggests that experience, rather than age, could be the decisive factor in their quest for continental redemption.
