2025 AFCON Quarter Final: Nigeria Are Better Now Than 2019 – Mahrez
By Saheed Afolabi (Live In Morocco)
Algeria playmaker, Riyad Mahrez has thumbed up the Nigeria team for having a better squad in the 2025 Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) than the 2019 team.
Algeria defeated Nigeria to reach the final of the 2019 AFCON where they eventually emerged champions. The Dessert Warriors will battle Nigeria in the quarter final of the AFCON at the Stade de Marrakech on Saturday, December 10 at 5pm.
Mahrez said defeating the Super Eagles in 2019 is an unforgettable moment for him and his teammates while he acknowledges that he derives joy playing against big teams because that’s where the big players belongs.
“Yes, of course you cannot forget that moment for me and for the team, for our country. It was an incredible moment, but it’s always good to play against a big team, a strong team, and I’m so happy to arrive at this stage again and to play against this type of team,” Mahrez said at the prematch Press Conference at the Stade de Marrakech.
“That’s where big players belong and I’m so excited and looking forward to the game tomorrow because I know it will be a very good game to watch and to play.”
The Dessert Warriors skipper is anxious of the clash against the Eagles which he stated how tough the tie is considering previous meetings.
“Nigeria and Algeria, I’ve seen something as well yesterday. I think between us it’s like really, really close. I think it’s like eight games, eight wins each or something. So I think the game of tomorrow will be good.”
The former Manchester City winger however sees the present squad of Super Eagles better than the team Algeria knocked out in the Semifinal of the 2019 AFCON.
“No, of course, like I said, there are a few players who were there in 2019. I think offensively, you guys are a bit better than 2019, but Nigeria has always been a very, very good team with history. They always had top players, and that’s how it is now as well.”
