Mahrez seeking another Algeria success in final AFCON

Riyad Mahrez has confirmed that the current edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will be his last as he seeks continental glory again with Algeria.

The 34-year-old won the 2019 edition of the tournament, while he has scored nine goals and provided two assists in 23 appearances at the competition.

Mahrez has netted three goals in three appearances at the 2025 AFCON, averaging a goal every 70 minutes in this edition. This comes after not scoring a single goal across a combined 479 minutes played in the previous two editions (2021 and 2023).

Algeria are third favourites to win this year’s tournament, according to the Opta supercomputer. They have been given a 14.3% chance of lifting the trophy, behind Senegal at 16.4% and hosts Morocco at 22.7%.

Ahead of their quarter-final tie against Nigeria, Mahrez revealed that this would be his final continental quest with Algeria.

“This will be my last AFCON,” said Mahrez.

“I want to win the Africa Cup of Nations again with this generation – I really want it.”

Curved. Clean. Clinical. Adil Boulbina’s finish on repeat. #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | #WePlayDifferent pic.twitter.com/64m7jDBPta

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 8, 2026

On Algeria's way to glory in 2019, Mahrez produced a moment of magic in their semi-final victory over upcoming opponents Nigeria.

With the game seemingly heading to extra time, Mahrez found the top-left corner with a free-kick in the 95th minute to send Algeria to the final.

However, the former Manchester City winger anticipates a different matchup this time around.

“This match against Nigeria will be very different from the one in 2019. That was in Egypt, with different players, a different style of play, and a different journey,” added Mahrez.

“The current Nigerian team is better offensively than the one in 2019. There are a lot of talented players in this squad.

“We also have a very good team, and we’ll give everything to make our fans happy. It’s going to be a great match.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Algeria – Ibrahim Maza

Coming into the quarter-finals, Maza had the highest expected goals (xG) sequence involvement (4.9) of any midfielder at the 2025 AFCON.

Indeed, the only player ranking above him prior to the quarter-finals was Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen (6.3).

Nigeria – Alex Iwobi

Iwobi has made 46 line-breaking passes at the 2025 AFCON, at least twice as many as any other Nigeria player (22 by Wilfried Ndidi).

Twenty-two of Iwobi’s line-breaking passes came in his side’s win over Mozambique last time out; the most by any player across the round of 16 fixtures.