Upon his return to Algeria following the disappointing campaign at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Captain Riyad Mahrez addressed the swirling speculations regarding his potential international retirement and offered insights into the team’s performance.
Despite being criticized throughout AFCON 2023 and even finding himself on the substitutes’ bench during the recent match against Mauritania, Mahrez, the A-Ahli winger, faced the local media with candor, taking responsibility for the team’s shortcomings.
He expressed, “We weren’t good, we weren’t up to par. That’s 2 AFCONS in a row, 3 deadlines, that we’ve missed. (…) We are the first to be responsible. Me first at the front and I put everyone behind, there is no problem.”
When pressed about his personal future in the national team, Mahrez maintained a measured stance, stating, “My career with the national team, now is not the time to talk about it.
There will be a good time when we will have to speak, and I will speak inshallah. For the moment, we are talking about the team.” Indicating that his current focus is on the collective aspects, he added, “My goal after this? I don’t know.
I can’t tell you what my goal is. My head is upside down. It’s not easy to come out of such a failure.”
The seasoned player hinted at a period of reflection, leaving the door open for a more detailed discussion in the future.
He expressed disappointment and sadness for the supporters and acknowledged the profound impact of the team’s underwhelming performance.
Ending on a note of optimism, Mahrez stated, “We hope that things will bounce back, inchallah, with a new coach, with new players.”
Following Djamel Belmadi’s departure, Hervé Renard, coach of the French women’s team, is a front-runner for the coaching position, and Mahrez hinted at the potential influence of the next coach on his future decisions.
#Mahrez : ” Nous avons bcp de jeunes et bons joueurs, mais ce n’est ça qui va nous faire gagner des CAN, nous sommes tombés pendant une longue période, ce n’est pas le moment de parler de mon ressort avec la sélection, le plus important c’est l’équipe “.#Algerie 🇩🇿 ❤️ 💯 pic.twitter.com/suxYREzqPg
— FARID BOUSSALEM (@faridmca1921) January 25, 2024
