“Algeria have to be at their best” – Ex-Man City star says ahead of AFCON 2025 showdown against Super Eagles

Adil Boulbina celebrates Algeria goal during the Afcon 2025 match between Algeria and DR Congo. Photo by ImagoxThor Wegner/DeFodi Images –

Former Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez has emphasized that his team must be at their absolute best to defeat the Super Eagles this Saturday, according to Soccernet.ng.

​Algeria is set to face Nigeria in one of the highly anticipated quarterfinal clashes at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

This edition of the tournament has been uniquely predictable as nearly all the remaining contenders are former champions, with Mali being the only side in the quarterfinal draw yet to lift the trophy.

​The pedigree of the Algeria vs Nigeria matchup is immense. Between them, Nigeria and Algeria boast five AFCON titles. The Super Eagles have secured three, while the Fennec Foxes have claimed two.

​Saturday’s fixture will showcase some of the continent’s elite talent, with very little to separate the two sides on paper.

Their last AFCON meeting in 2019 was decided by the narrowest of margins when a dramatic, late free-kick from Mahrez knocked Nigeria out.

ENGRAVED IN AFRICAN FOOTBALL HISTORY!

Riyad Mahrez deservedly claimed 2019 Goal of the Year! #CAFAwards2022 | @Mahrez22 pic.twitter.com/PxeRFpgNga

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) July 8, 2022

Till today, many Nigerian fans still blame Daniel Akpeyi for that loss. Nonetheless, going into the fixture on Saturday, the Super Eagles will be desperate to flip the script.

Soccer What Algeria Captain Riyad Mahrez Said About Game vs Super Eagles

​Ahead of the game between Nigeria and Algeria, captain Riyad Mahrez acknowledged that securing a win will be a tough task given the quality of both squads.

Still, the Algerian captain remains confident that his side will emerge victorious within 90 minutes.

“I think obviously there is a pressure to win the game, so the pressure to win the tournament is still a long way, long way to think about, a long way to go,” Mahrez said at the pre-match conference, as observed by Soccernet.ng.

“Obviously we both teams want to go through. We are both great teams, and it will be the best at the game that will go through. And I hope it will be us. I hope it will be us, and we have to make everything to perform in our best way.”

Mahrez is one of the players that Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic will be banking on to deliver. The former Manchester City star has registered three goals in this tournament so far, and he will be looking to add to his tally.

The game will be played at Stade de Marrakech, with kick off time set for 5 PM Nigerian time on Saturday. The winner of the fixture will take on the winner of the game between Cameroon and Morocco.

Kelvin Omachonu

Kelvin Omachonu is a professional football columnist and sports writer with over half a decade of experience covering major events and delivering captivating, analytically-driven stories.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, he is fueled by a profound dedication to sports journalism and the beautiful game. His insights have previously been featured in respected outlets, including IndyPress UI, UCJ UI Newshive NG, and Sportspremi.
Away from work, Kelvin is an avid fan of basketball, enjoys a great movie, and is always discovering new music.