Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez insisted his brace during Wednesday’s decisive 3-0 Africa Cup of Nations victory against Sudan was not intended as a response to his critics. The 34-year-old Al Ahli forward, formerly of Manchester City, struck twice in Rabat before Ibrahim Maza added a third. Now Algeria’s all-time leading AFCON scorer with eight goals, Mahrez has faced intense scrutiny following consecutive group-stage exits.
However, the veteran maintained that his sole focus remains on pitch performance rather than external noise. Fresh from leading Al Ahli to historic AFC Champions League Elite glory, Mahrez emphasized the absolute necessity for collective consistency. With Algeria already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, they currently top Group E. Mahrez immediately shifted attention to Sunday’s challenging fixture against Burkina Faso, who dramatically defeated Equatorial Guinea 2-1. He stressed that the Desert Warriors must elevate their level and maintain stability to ensure a smoother path forward.