CDM 2026 / Argentina - Algeria: Rabah Madjer's warning

Africa Today at 12:00

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI

News Editor

16.06.26 21:00 World Cup

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Algeria

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Despite the euphoria sparked by the win over the Netherlands, Rabah Madjer refuses to get carried away. The Algerian legend urges the Fennecs to stay humble and vigilant before their much-anticipated clash with Lionel Messi's Argentina.

The victory over the Netherlands set all of Algeria alight. However, a familiar voice calls for restraint. In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Rabah Madjer, an icon of Algerian football, warned the Fennecs against overconfidence ahead of the showdown with Argentina.

"Algeria must play with caution. Because with Argentina, individual brilliance can change the course of a match at any moment. Messi is there, and these are exceptional players who play for some of the biggest clubs in the world. You can't just say: 'I beat the Netherlands, we're going to beat Argentina easily.' No, you have to respect all these teams and play with immense strength of character," he insisted.

Read also: CDM 2026 - Argentina: the Argentinians fear Algeria

The former African Ballon d'Or winner drew on history to drive his point home.

"In 2022, during the World Cup in Qatar, we all saw what happened to this same Argentina team. They lost to Saudi Arabia. Yet Argentina made it all the way to the final to beat a powerhouse like France. Where's the logic in that?" he emphasized eloquently.

Madjer's message could not be clearer.

"Beware of the trap, because a friendly match is nothing like an official match," he concluded.

A warning, but a benevolent one, from a man who knows better than anyone what it means to wear the green jersey on the world's biggest stage.

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