CAN 2021: Riyad Mahrez, on the way to a fourth participation
The joy of the Algerians and Riyad Mahrez (center) after the coronation of Algeria during the 2019 African Cup of Nations in Cairo, Egypt, July 19, 2019 Giuseppe CACACE AFP
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
3 min
Currently Manchester City's top scorer, Algerian international Riyad Mahrez is preparing to experience his fourth African Cup of Nations in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6.
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The winner of the 2019 edition in Egypt with the Fennecs therefore puts the title on the line with the hope of doubling the stake.
Above all, he is one of the stars of the round ball who will tread the Cameroonian lawns.
Even if the former Leicester player will not be able to be present
in Qatar for the start of the
Greens'
preparation
.
Mahrez is expected to arrive in Cameroon late and not play the two preparation matches against Gambia on January 1 and against Ghana scheduled for January 5.
Indeed, international players concerned by the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon can play with their club until January 3, announced the International Football Federation on Sunday December 26, 2021.
The desillusion ...
Riyad Mahrez started his international career in 2014, at the age of 23, during the pre-World internship in Brazil. On June 2, 2014, he was definitively part of the list of twenty-three players selected by Vahid Halilhodžić for the World Cup. "
My father often took me with him on vacation in Algeria, I felt more Algerian since then, and it was important to me to wear the Algeria jersey
," he explained on the Canal Football Club set.
I'm glad I made this dream come true.
It was a nice move from the Algerian Federation. At the time, Riyad Mahrez did not yet have this dimension.
In 2015, after a memorable World Cup where Algeria offered itself a round of 16 against Germany, Riyad Mahrez found himself in Equatorial Guinea, with Frenchman Christian Gourcuff at the helm.
But the adventure ends in the quarter-finals and the Fennecs leave the competition after the defeat against Côte d'Ivoire, future African champion (3-1).
Two years later in Gabon, Algeria coached by Georges Leekens will leave the competition by the back door without being able to pass the first round.
... Before the conquest
Two years later, in Cairo, it is the consecration for Riyad Mahrez with this final won against Senegal.
“
It's the best title.
It's magic to win with your country.
Thanks to Djamel Belmadi.
Everything was perfect with him,
”he told RFI.
Algerian captain Riyad Mahrez (c) sent his team to the CAN 2019 final with a direct free kick. Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters
In the semi-final against Nigeria, Mahrez scored with a free kick the goal of victory in stoppage time (90th + 5 / 2-1).
“
It's my most important goal
in selection. We are happy to make the people proud, that was our goal. It's my dream to win the Africa Cup, there is one game left. We will concentrate, because it will be another battle against Senegal,
”he admitted. Riyad Mahrez had already scored in the first game against Kenya and in the round of 16 against Guinea. "
Mahrez is the kind of player who sends you to the final
," his coach
Djamel Belmadi
was delighted at a press conference
.
He puts himself in tune with the team, he wants more than ever to be a leader.
I am not a coach who bases his team around a player, but the leader appears on his own.
"
Born in Sarcelles (Val-d'Oise), trained in Quimper, Mahrez allowed Leicester City to win their first title in the English Championship in 2016 (voted best player in the Premier League with 17 goals and 11 assists).
With his career as an atypical footballer, far from the lines drawn by training centers, the first African to receive the award for best player in the English championship could, like Samuel Eto'o, afford Cameroon a second CAN in a row.
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