Mahrez: I don't want to go home

Algerian captain Riyad Mahrez during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Afcon Finals Algeria Training Session at Japoma Annexe South in Douala, Cameroon on 19 January 2022 ©Shaun Roy/BackpagePix

by Staff Reporter

Thursday Jan 20, 2022. 11:00

Riyad Mahrez insists he has no plans of making early flight bookings out of Cameroon on Thursday as Algeria head into their do-or-die Group E finale match against Cote d’Ivoire.

The defending AFCON champions arrive at the point of no return on January 20 in a match they must win or surrender the trophy and exit the 2021 tournament.

Winless Algeria’s AFCON stay became precarious on January 16 when Equatorial Guinea beat them 1-0 to end their coveted 35-match unbeaten run dating back to 2018.

That result left the two-time AFCON champions bottom of Group E with a draw and defeat.

2021 AFCON GROUP STANDINGS

“It will be an open game with two teams wanting to win, hoping we win,” Mahrez said at Wednesday’s pre-match briefing.

“I don’t want to lose and go home.

“I believe in qualification. I can’t tell you that we will win but I guarantee you that we will do everything for it. I am confident and hope to stay here longer.”

Algeria has 1 point that they earned from their opening game on January 11 in a 1-1 draw against third positioned Sierra Leone who have 2 points.

Equatorial Guinea are second on 3 points while opponents Cote d’Ivoire have 4 points.