Mahrez Faces a Reporter’s Morocco-Mother Moment as Algeria Aims for AFCON Glory

Mahrez Addresses Morocco-Mother Question Ahead of AFCON Clash

Riyad Mahrez, captain of Algeria, spoke at a press conference on the eve of the match against Sudan, the opening round of the Africa Cup of Nations being held in Morocco.

During the briefing, a journalist attempted to unsettle Mahrez by asking how it feels to play for Algeria, a country of his father, on Moroccan soil, the country of his mother.

Surprised by the question, Mahrez smiled and called it a smart query before answering.

“We welcomed Moroccans with great warmth, and we are very happy to be here in Morocco,” he said. “As for my father being Algerian and my mother Moroccan, that’s another matter, but we are happy to participate in the tournament.”

“We will do our best to achieve something great… that’s the most important thing,” he added.

Punchline: If questions were goals, that journalist would have a hat-trick. Punchline 2: Family roots or not, Mahrez is playing for Algeria—and the fans know where the real assist comes from.