Mahrez Goes Off Script: Algeria's AFCON Exit Sparks an Angry Post-Match Message
11 January 2026
Reaction after Algeria's exit
Riyad Mahrez, Algeria's star and captain, reacted with anger to his country's exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Refereeing and match details
The Desert Foxes were eliminated 2-0 by Nigeria in the quarterfinals, as the Super Eagles booked a semifinal date with Morocco, the tournament hosts.
In the mixed zone after the game, Mahrez told reporters, "I hate talking about refereeing when we lose".
He added that the referee overlooked a clear first-half penalty for Algeria and ignored several other fouls and yellow cards.
The Algeria captain also saluted Nigeria's performance, saying, "Bravo, Nigeria; congrats on qualifying, they were the stronger side—reality bites".
Yet Mahrez didn’t sugarcoat the result, noting the state of play and the pressure on his team as they attempted to overturn the scoreline.
Looking ahead and Mahrez’s future
The opinionated captain also confirmed that this edition of AFCON could be his last in an Algeria shirt, recalling Algeria’s 2019 title triumph in Egypt.
Punchline: If referees were coffee, this match would need a double shot.
Punchline: Algeria’s next plan—sign a referee who can spell penalty. Comedy of errors, or just football, you decide.
