Morocco’s Rising Star Sets the Stage for an Algerian Showdown
2 January 2026
Ben-Sghir Sets Sights on a Potential Morocco-Algeria Classic
Ilyas Ben-Sghir, a Morocco international, spoke about the friendly rivalry with his Bayer Leverkusen teammate Ibrahim Mazza and stressed his desire to outshine him if the two nations meet in AFCON 2025 in Morocco.
In an interview with Afrikick Media, Ben-Sghir said that they joke about it a lot and hope to play each other because a Morocco–Algeria match would be incredible. He added that the path to such a clash is long and complex, requiring deep runs to face one another, but both sides know what they must do to reach that stage.
To Mazza, Ben-Sghir smiled and said that if they meet, their era ends. The two teams are on track: Morocco face Tanzania in the Round of 16, while Algeria confronts the Democratic Republic of Congo in a tough tie.
Note: This is banter ahead of a potential AFCON 2025 showdown. The games will decide who jokes last.
Punchline: If this rivalry were a stand-up routine, the crowd would demand an encore.
Punchline: In football, talk is cheap; when the whistle blows, the drama writes itself and we all become instant fans.
