Mahrez and Mandi’s Algeria farewell ceremony postponed until November

Riyad Mahrez and Aissa Mandi will have to wait until November for the official tribute being prepared by the Algerian Football Federation (FAF).

The ceremony had initially been planned for the current international break, but the FAF has now moved it to the next international window. Both players are expected to be honoured in front of Algeria supporters for their contributions to the national team.

Mahrez and Mandi, who were part of Algeria’s Africa Cup of Nations-winning side in 2019, ended their international careers after the 2026 World Cup. They finished with 119 and 122 caps respectively.

The FAF had wanted to give the pair the opportunity to say goodbye to the Algerian public in a formal ceremony, rather than simply announcing their retirements. That plan remains in place, although the timetable has changed.

The two former internationals had initially been due to attend the first camp of the Brahim Hemdani era. Instead, their tribute will now take place during the November international break.

The decision follows calls for recognition of their achievements, including from Islam Slimani.

“These are two players who have marked the history of Algeria. […] They are players who deserve a tribute,” Algeria’s all-time leading goalscorer said recently.

Mahrez has already received an informal farewell from supporters. During Algeria’s 3-1 victory over Zambia at the Hocine-Ait-Ahmed Stadium in Tizi Ouzou on Friday, fans celebrated their former captain in the seventh minute, a reference to the number he wore for the national team.

The gesture carried particular significance because the match was Algeria’s first official fixture since the international retirement of the former Manchester City player, who was one of the key figures in the country’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations triumph.

Despite the start of a new era under Hemdani, Mahrez remains a prominent figure in the thoughts of Algeria supporters.

At 35, the winger is also facing uncertainty over his club future. He has been without a club since leaving Al-Ahli at the beginning of the summer and has yet to agree a move.

Several possible destinations have been discussed in recent weeks, including clubs in Europe, the Gulf and South America, but none has so far resulted in a deal.

Mahrez is continuing to train while he waits for his next opportunity. Images recently published by his fitness coach, Jamie Elite DXB, showed him in Dubai following an individual programme designed to maintain his condition.

His next Algeria appearance will therefore come in November, when he is expected to be honoured alongside Mandi in a ceremony intended to mark the end of one of the most significant chapters in the recent history of the Fennecs.