Mercy Gadia Adi
Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez has warned that his side’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final meeting with Nigeria will be anything but straightforward, insisting that “anything is possible” when the two heavyweights clash on Saturday.
Mahrez was speaking after Algeria edged DR Congo to book their place in the last eight, setting up a high-profile encounter with the Super Eagles. The fixture rekindles memories of their last AFCON meeting in 2019, when Mahrez’s dramatic stoppage-time free kick sealed a semi-final victory for the North Africans and ended Nigeria’s title hopes.
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Reflecting on the upcoming tie, the former Leicester City winger said Algeria were well aware of the challenge Nigeria pose.
“Nigeria? We know them well. The match won’t be easy,” Mahrez told reporters.
Asked about the possibility of another decisive late moment, he added with a smile: “Another last-minute free kick? We will see. Anything is possible.”