Surprise question about his Moroccan roots: Riyad Mahrez responds with a smile

24.12.25 FT AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations

Algeria

3

:

Sudan

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Algerian star Riyad Mahrez (34) couldn't hide his smile during the press conference held on the eve of the Algeria vs Sudan clash, set for this Wednesday as part of the opening matchday in Group E of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

During the media session, a journalist threw an unexpected question at the Fennecs captain, asking about his family roots and which country he feels he represents on the pitch—his father's or his mother's homeland.

Momentarily surprised, Riyad Mahrez quickly burst into laughter, showing a relaxed reaction and a sense of humor that reflect his maturity and composure in such situations.

For the record, Mahrez has Moroccan roots on his mother's side. However, he was born and raised in Algeria, the nation he chose to represent on the international stage.

Mahrez responds calmly to a question about his Moroccan heritage

The captain of the Greens also expressed his delight at playing in Morocco, praising the warm welcome given to the Algerian delegation and affirming that his family background has no bearing on the sporting stakes.

"We were very warmly welcomed by the Moroccans. We're happy to be in a neighboring country. Whether my father is Algerian and my mother is Moroccan makes no difference," Mahrez said.

Switching gears, the Al-Ahli Jeddah player insisted on the importance of the opening match against Sudan, stressing that Algeria has no excuses at this AFCON 2025 and making his ambitions clear.

"We want to write a new chapter in the history of the national team and of Algeria. The competition starts tomorrow and we are ready," he concluded.

CAN 2025 / D-1 Algeria vs Sudan: "We're ready," says Riyad Mahrez

Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.

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AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations