After Algeria’s draw against Angola (1-1), Monday evening for its entry into this CAN 2024, Riyad Mahrez did not hide his disappointment.
Eliminated in the group stage in 2022 in Cameroon, Algeria missed its big debut in this 2024 Africa Cup of Nations. Opposed to Angola on Monday evening, the Fennecs were hooked (1-1). Despite a clear domination and the opening score of Baghdad Bounedjah, Djamel Belamdi’s men were joined in the score in the second half, after a penalty converted by Mabululu. At the end of the match, Riyad Mahrez expressed his frustration, before demobilizing his troops.
“It’s bitter, it’s a little frustrating”
“It’s bitter, it’s a little frustrating because the first period we dominated from A to Z, we were in their camp, they had nothing and we should have killed the match, thus launched the old Citizen. We didn’t do it but even so we had our foot on the ball. We are in their camp. In the second half we have a short period of hesitation of five to ten minutes and even then they don’t have much, they don’t really have any chances of shots on target. And on this somewhat lucky penalty it’s the vagaries of football… It’s up to us to resolve this little period of uncertainty. Maybe we’re a little behind but despite that I think we had a good match, there are a lot of positives. We’re not going to start shooting at each other, pointing the finger at anyone, there are still two matches left. »
“We don’t already have the knife to our throat”
And Mahrez added: “It’s not easy, we know the African Cup, I’m very confident, we’ve worked a lot. Everyone is good Inch’Allah we need everyone, support and to win this second match. We didn’t start off ideally as we wanted, but it’s not a crisis either. We don’t already have the knife to our throat. For the second match we must learn the positive lessons and start as we started this match. And in the second half avoid this little period of hesitation. »
