Algeria won this Thursday against Somalia (3-0) as part of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. During this meeting, Riyad Mahrez, scorer and passer, ended a drought of almost a year in the selection.
Thanks to this success, Vladimir Petkovic's men validated their ticket for the next World Cup, even before playing their last match against Uganda next Tuesday. After missing the edition in Qatar in 2022, the Fennecs will therefore make their return to the biggest international stage.
“I’m not Ronaldo”
The Algerian captain is preparing to play his second World Cup, almost twelve years after that in Brazil. And the Sarcellois no longer has any illusions, this edition will indeed be his last with the Greens.
“No, it will be the last one. I'm not (Cristiano) Ronaldo, bro”said the right winger of Al-Ahli, in reference to the impressive longevity of the five-time Ballon d'Or, still present on the pitch and with the Portuguese Seleção at 40 years old.
And to add: “The most important thing is our qualification. (…) I will give everything I have to represent Algeria in the best possible way. »
