Algerian national team captain Riyad Mahrez stated that winning the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Morocco will host at the end of this year, is his primary goal. He aims to lead the national team to their second continental title since joining “Les Fennecs” in 2014 under Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodžić. Mahrez’s official debut with the national team was on June 17, 2014, against Belgium in the Brazil World Cup.

The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. The Algerian national team will compete in Group E alongside Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Equatorial Guinea. Vladimir Petković’s squad will open their AFCON campaign against Sudan on December 24, then face Burkina Faso on December 28, and Equatorial Guinea on December 31.

Mahrez appeared confident in the national team’s ability to replicate the success of the 2019 AFCON held in Egypt on Moroccan soil, considering the strong and rich squad that forms the first team, despite setbacks in the two tournaments following the Cairo edition. During an interview with the French channel “Canal Plus” on Tuesday, Mahrez said the team’s motto for the upcoming AFCON will be recovery, stating: “Our goal in the next Africa Cup is to win the title, nothing else. Some may see this as exaggerated, but it’s the truth. We have no excuse, and our goal is to lift the trophy.”

Mahrez also took the opportunity to discuss his experience with the national team, which began at the 2014 World Cup. He highlighted key moments that accompanied his decision to represent Algeria, noting that many young new players have joined with the aim of honoring the Algerian team. He said: “Eleven years have passed since I joined the national team. It is true that things have changed over the years; many names have come and gone, some succeeded and others perhaps failed, but I describe my journey with the national team as exceptional because the path was very difficult.” Mahrez sent a direct message to dual-nationality players, urging them to firmly decide their allegiance to Algeria without hesitation, emphasizing that a player’s feeling of belonging to Algeria is enough to represent the national team without doubt. If otherwise, it is better not to hesitate and to decide in advance.”