Mahrez sounds the alarm: Saudi Arabia, "it will be different and more difficult"

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Foot Africa

·14 November 2025

Mahrez sounds the alarm: Saudi Arabia, "it will be different and more difficult"

Algeria: Mahrez warns his teammates ahead of Saudi Arabia clash

Mahrez sounds the alarm: Saudi Arabia, "it will be different and more difficult"

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After Algeria’s 3–1 victory over Zimbabwe in Jeddah, Riyad Mahrez stopped in the mixed zone to deliver a clear, forward-looking message. The Desert Foxes’ captain stressed that this first match is just a starting point in preparation for AFCON 2025, reminding everyone of the importance of maintaining a high-performance mindset.

“The next game against Saudi Arabia will be different, a bit more difficult,” Mahrez initially admitted.

He then added: “We’ll try to play a good match to prepare ourselves well for AFCON.”

These two statements reflect his determination to keep the squad under positive pressure, despite the impressive performance against Zimbabwe.

A strong message to Belaïli: “We’re going to miss him”

Asked about Youcef Belaïli’s serious injury—he suffered a torn cruciate ligament—Mahrez didn’t hide his emotion.

“I wish Belaili a speedy recovery. We’re going to miss having a player like him. It’s a big loss for us and for him,”

he lamented, paying heartfelt tribute to a key squad member and close friend.

Despite this setback, Mahrez prefers to look ahead. He emphasizes the need to “learn from every match” and to use these games to “keep building team cohesion.” In his view, the performance against Zimbabwe—achieved with several new players and a reshuffled starting eleven—is an encouraging sign.

With such an experienced leader at the helm, the Desert Foxes now approach the test against Saudi Arabia with ambition and focus, determined to build strong momentum ahead of AFCON 2025.