Exclusive Foot Africa - the expert's opinion: Why is Riyad Mahrez no longer as decisive with Algeria?
Algeria was held to a goalless draw by Equatorial Guinea (0-0) in a match counting towards the 5th round of qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025).
Having already secured their ticket for the next edition of AFCON, the "Fennecs" will be aiming to complete this qualification group stage unbeaten.
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Once again, captain Riyad Mahrez struggled to make an impact, unable to shake off the jinx that's haunted him since the match against Burundi last January.
Indeed, he has failed to score or provide a single assist in his last seven appearances for the "Fennecs", against Angola, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Liberia, Togo (twice), and most recently Equatorial Guinea.
"Foot Africa" sought the opinion of Zahir Lahlah, reporter for "Buteur TV", who kindly explained the reasons behind Riyad Mahrez's spectacular drop in form with the "Fennecs".
A physical setback
According to the Algerian journalist, the former Manchester City player's poor performances are mainly down to a physical deficiency.
"It's clear that Riyad Mahrez is being hampered by poor physical condition, which has prevented him from regaining his top technical and tactical level," he said.
"He wasn't serious during the last off-season and didn't make the necessary effort to maintain his athletic weight. As a result, this has negatively impacted his performances on the pitch," added Zahir Lahlah.
"Today, Riyad Mahrez is paying the price for letting himself go and still can't shed his excess weight," he continued.
"In my opinion, he made a strategic mistake by moving to Saudi Arabia, as the level of professionalism in the kingdom isn't as deeply embedded. He could have easily played for a mid-table club in the Premier League," concluded the Algerian journalist.
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