Algeria, already a big problem with Mahrez!

Everything is undoubtedly not to be thrown away in the first match delivered by Algeria in this African Cup of Nations. But the overall performance against Angola (1-1), Monday evening, did not live up to the ambitions announced by the Greens, revenge after a 2021 edition which they approached as title holders and which they pitifully left in the first round. Like Riyad Mahrez, the individuals did not make it possible to sublimate a hesitant collective, sometimes out of breath.

At the end of the meeting, the Fennecs winger (32 years old), renamed “Malay Riyadh” or “merguez grill” by videographer Mohamed Henni, therefore took it for his number. “I saw Mahrez arrive overweight in preparation, once again totally disconnected in Algeria’s very good first half, and in the second half I saw him absent and transparent…”balances on Winamax TV the newspaper Walid Acherchour, also angry against Djamel Belmadi.

“Luckily he has a coach who imposes the republic of friends…”

“Fortunately he has a coach who imposes the republic of friends and who gives him unlimited credit because he made us dream in 2019 (during the CAN won by Algeria, editor’s note)he continues. But that was five years ago and now it’s starting to last. Waiting 90 minutes for him to do something to us at the wave of a magic wand is honestly starting to bore me. Because the problem is that there is no continuity, there is no connection, there is no overflow of function! »

🙅‍♂️ “I’m disappointed with Mahrez, he can’t play this kind of match. If he doesn’t want to give 200% for Algeria, he should leave his place to others!”

🗣️ @walidacherchour pic.twitter.com/ssfC0ncfwa

— Winamax FC 🔞 (@WinamaxFC) January 15, 2024

For him, the Fennecs winger (32 years old) does not provide enough effort on the field and only plays when he is served at the feet. “But that’s not football anymore!he continues. We need more when the team is in difficulty. I didn’t see him lecture anyone or come to Belmadi to tell him to do something. He has played in big teams, in big championships, he has the right to feel a match and have an experience, he has lived through the African Cups of Nations! »

“So we will wait, there is a second match against Burkina Faso (Saturday), we will wait like at the last CAN and like in the play-offs (of the 2022 World Cup)… But if he doesn’t want to to play with the selection, if he doesn’t want to give 200%, he should leave his place to others!he blurted. Mahrez, it’s been six months since he left for Saudi Arabia, he made a choice. His goal for the season is that (the CAN). He can’t give that when he plays 90 minutes. »

“If he doesn’t want to give 200%, he should leave his place to others! »

Walid Acherchour is not the only one to say that Riyad Mahrez, who has been playing for Al-Ahli since last summer, is “far from the mark” Since “quite a while”. In its notes from the Algeria-Angola match, the specialized site DZ Football writes that “the supporters ended up accepting the fact that he would no longer make a difference with the ball” and judges his performance “quite distressing”. Before concluding: “The quality of his left foot will not justify him not keeping up with his teammates for long. »

🗣💬 “What is the solution? It’s all well and good to say that Mahrez is not in good shape but who are the replacements? Algeria looks too good today”

🇩🇿 Michaël Ciani, ex-French international, questions the level of the Fennecs after their draw against Angola. pic.twitter.com/kL4bCi2Vfo

— After Foot RMC (@AfterRMC) January 15, 2024

But does the Algerian coach have other options? According to Michaël Ciani, this is the problem for the Greens which he considers limited. “I don’t think it’s a system problemanalyzes the former French international defender (1 selection) on RMC. What is the solution ? It’s all well and good to say that Mahrez is not fit, but who are the replacements? There is a question of generation, in my opinion. I think Algeria looks too good today. » Are we heading towards a new fiasco?