As Ghana (group C), Senegal (group I) and Tunisia (group J), Algeria won its first three qualifying matches for the 2022 Africa Cup, the last against Zimbabwe on Thursday in Algiers ( 3-1). An opponent that Djamel Belmadi’s men will meet again on Monday afternoon in Harare, where a draw would allow them to be officially qualified for the continental competition of which they are the title holders, and which will take place in Cameroon in January 2022. And if they did not sign a fantastic performance against the Zimbabwean Warriors, far from it, the Fennecs were once again able to count on their master to play, who is also their captain: Riyad Mahrez, author of the third goal of the his own breakthrough alone (67th), after having delivered an assist on a millimeter center for Sofiane Feghouli just before the break (43rd).
Belmadi: “He has played almost every game”
Four days earlier, he had been ruled out inexplicably enough by Pep Guardiola for the 1-1 clash against Liverpool, having started in nine of Manchester City’s last ten games. Absent from the group, the Sarcellois was not however injured, but his coach preferred Ferran Torres and Bernardo Silva, who replaced the Spaniard on the hour mark. A real disappointment for the 29-year-old, whose the situation does not however worry his coach. “There is nothing alarming,” Belmadi said at a press conference when asked about the subject. If you look at the number of games he has played lately with his club, it is is pretty consistent. He’s played almost every game. ”
Back against Tottenham?
Even though he didn’t hide his disappointment either. “We would have liked to see Riyadh play and perform on this kind of opposition. But unfortunately, these are the vagaries of the profession. We must stay strong and not dramatize, continued the coach of the Greens. Riyadh is a football lover, and Of course he would have liked to play this kind of meeting. He is disappointed, we were all disappointed not to see him. But at the same time, he is each time very happy to find the national team. then he’s also a player with a strong character. If he’s got where he is, it’s because he knows how to deal with this kind of situation. ” As he has done in the past, Riyad Mahrez has responded in the best possible way, on the pitch, and he will still be one of the major assets of his selection on Monday. Before returning to the Premier League five days later, with a shock on the pitch at Tottenham. And this time, he intends to be.
