Algeria head coach Vladimir Petkovic has praised Riyad Mahrez following his impressive display in the team’s victory over Sudan at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking in his post-match interview, Petkovic expressed confidence in the overall balance within the Algerian camp, stressing that leadership will naturally develop as the tournament progresses.
According to the coach, the foundation of Algeria’s ambitions lies in unity and ensuring players are placed in the best possible conditions to perform.
“We have a solid group, and I am convinced that new leaders will emerge as the matches progress. The most important thing remains teamwork and the team’s ability to put the players in good conditions,” Petkovic said.
The Algerian tactician reserved special praise for Mahrez, who played a key role in the win, noting that the experienced forward set the tone with a strong opening performance despite having nothing left to prove on the international stage.
“I’m very pleased with Riyad’s performance tonight. He had nothing to prove, but it’s always better to start well. He was very comfortable on the ball, in his runs forward, and his performance was very positive,” he added.
Mahrez’s showing against Sudan underlined his continued importance to Algeria as they look ahead to the rest of their AFCON 2025 campaign with growing confidence.
His brace against Sudan saw him become Algeria’s top scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations with eight goals.
