"Mazadona" injured… Algeria holds its breath

Algeria is holding its breath after its playmaker Ibrahim Maza suffered an injury while playing for his club, Bayer Leverkusen, in the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League.

Nicknamed “Mazadona” by Algerian fans, the midfielder took a knock to his knee and was forced to leave the pitch in the 56th minute during the second leg against Olympiacos Piraeus (0-0) in the Champions League play-offs.

Official: FIFA unveils its new rankings after AFCON 2025

According to German sources, the player is set to undergo medical examinations this Wednesday to assess the severity of his injury.

A breakout star at the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025), the former Hertha Berlin player has become a key figure in Vladimir Petkovic’s plans for the national team.

He has already earned 13 caps for the Fennecs, registering two goals and a single assist.

With Bayer Leverkusen, he has featured in 29 matches this 2025-2026 season, tallying 4 goals and 4 assists.

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.

Related teams and leagues

Algeria

Champions League