Algeria will soon be fixed. Opposing Somalia on Thursday and Uganda next Tuesday, as part of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in the Africa zone, the Fennecs are very close to validating their ticket to North America. It would take a terrible combination of circumstances for Riyad Mahrez's teammates, leaders of group G with 4 points ahead of the Ugandans, to not be there.
Before the final straight of these qualifications, the star winger of the Algerian selection spoke to the media
Square. The opportunity for him to return in particular to a funny mishap which recently ended, a man having usurped his identity and those of other stars. “He’s a geek, I don’t know who he is. He's a guy who has all the numbers in the world and he talks to everyone while I don't talk to anyone. he testifies.
“I meet people: 'Ah Riyad, how are you?'. 'But I've never seen you…' Ministers, crazy stuff. Club presidents, playerscontinues the ex-Manchester City player, now at Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia. He scratches tickets, places, things, visas… Crazy. » This scammer notably posed as the 34-year-old to obtain VIP tickets for a Beyoncé concert from actress Leïla Bekhti.
Riyad Mahrez: “The other tarba, he is talking to him”
“One day, I was in Algeria, says the ex-Citizen. The Minister of Sports comes to see me: 'Is Riyadh okay?' He speaks to me as if he knows me even though I have never seen him. I had a little blank: 'I think it's the other one. The other tarba, he is talking to him. I tell him: 'It wasn't me, sorry.' And he: 'But yes, it was your voice!'. And it happened lots of times, everywhere. With ambassadors. He even pretended to be Jamel Debbouze, Tahar Rahim…”
An incredible story which only ended at the beginning of September. According to the newspaper Releasethis 50-year-old criminal, manager in a McDonald's restaurant, was sentenced by the courts to one year in prison for identity theft and fraud, with a fine of 5,000 euros to be paid to the Algerian international, including 2,000 for moral damage. It is also prohibited to contact any personalities linked to this matter.
