Algerian forward Riyad Mahrez has highlighted the attacking prowess of Nigeria ahead of their crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 quarter-final showdown.
The North African giants will lock horns with the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Grande Stade de Marrakech Stadium on Saturday, January 10, 2026, with both teams seeking for a win to secure a place in the semifinals of the tournament.
Algeria narrowly triumphed over DR Congo in the last 16 after extra-time to secure a place in the quarterfinals, while the Super Eagles reached the last eight with a convincing 4-0 win over Mozambique.
At a pre-match conference, the former Leicester City and Manchester City star acknowledged the Super Eagles’ firepower but remained confident about Algeria’s chances.
“They have scored a lot of goals. They have a very good attack. We can’t deny it. Tomorrow will be tomorrow. But I’m not afraid,”
Mahrez has scored 3 goals at the 2025 AFCON, making him one of the top scorers in the tournament. His goals came in the matches against Sudan, where he scored a brace, and against Burkina Faso, where he scored a penalty.
He is expected to play a huge role for the Desert Foxes in their quest to beat Nigeria for a semifinals spot.
The last encounter between Algeria and Nigeria dates back to the semi-finals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, during which the Greens achieved victory by two goals to one. Algeria went ahead to secure the title for the second time in their history during the 2019 tournament.
