Mahrez eyes strong AFCON showing from Algeria / Photo: KENZO TRIBOUILLARD - AFP/File
-
Japanese minnows one win from fairytale Champions League title
-
Rugby Australia eyes brighter future as Lions tour brings cash windfall
-
Blazers rally stuns Spurs after Wembanyama injury
-
Young Chinese use AI to launch one-person firms over job anxiety
-
Delicate extraction: Malaysia offers rare earths alternative to China
-
Oil, stocks fall as traders weigh outlook after Trump extends truce
-
Pope to visit prison on final leg of Africa tour
-
US military says key weapons system staying in South Korea
-
India strangles final Maoist bastion as mining looms
-
AI-powered robots offer new hope to German factories
-
Indonesia orangutan forest cleared for 'carbon-neutral' packaging firm
-
PGA Tour mulls pathway back for golfers as LIV plots survival
-
One month phone-free: Young Americans try digital detox
-
Questions about Tesla spending binge ahead of earnings
-
Rome summons Russian ambassador over insults against Meloni
-
US tells Afghans to choose Taliban home or DR Congo: activist
-
Nanomerics Secures US Patent Extending MET Platform Protection to the 2040s
-
John Ternus to lead Apple in the age of AI
-
SpaceX partners with AI startup Cursor, may buy it for $60 bn
-
Mexico pyramid shooter inspired by Columbine attack, pre-Hispanic sacrifices
-
Mexico pyramid shooter planned attack, fixated on US massacre
-
Mbappe on the mark as Real Madrid sink Alaves
-
Rosenior blasts Chelsea flops after 'unacceptable' Brighton defeat
-
Inter roar back to beat Como and reach Italian Cup final
-
Lens sweep past Toulouse to reach French Cup final
-
Brighton crush Chelsea to pile pressure on under-fire Rosenior
-
Strait of Hormuz blockade drives up costs at Panama Canal
-
Trump extends ceasefire, says giving Iran time to negotiate
-
Michelle Bachelet hopes the world is ready for a female UN chief
-
Nowitzki, Bird among eight inductees into FIBA Hall of Fame
-
Stocks fall, oil climbs amid uncertainty over US-Iran talks
-
Iran war means more orders for US defense giants
-
Mexico pyramid shooting was planned attack, officials say
-
Trump's messaging on Iran grows increasingly erratic
-
Churchill Downs buys Preakness for $85 million
-
Unregulated AI like speeding with no steering wheel: AI godfather Hinton
-
Tourists return to Rio viewpoint after shootout scare
-
Maradona's daughter slams 'manipulation' of family by his doctors
-
Abhishek's 135 powers Hyderabad to third straight IPL win
-
Vance still in Washington as uncertainty mounts over US-Iran talks
-
No.1 Jeeno seeks first major win at LPGA Chevron event
-
New batch of World Cup tickets to go on sale
-
Material girl: Madonna offers reward for missing clothes
-
Maker of Argentina's first Oscar-winning film, Luis Puenzo, dies at 80:
-
Rape retrial hears Weinstein 'preyed' on aspiring US actress
-
Arrests, hangings, blackout: Iran cranks up wartime repression
-
Seixas relishes 'steep' challenge at Fleche Wallonne
-
US Fed chair nominee says will not be controlled by Trump
-
Singapore's Tang gets second term at UN's patent agency
-
Taiwan leader postpones Eswatini trip after overflight permits revoked
Mahrez eyes strong AFCON showing from Algeria
Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez is confident his side can make up for poor showings at the last two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations as the 2019 champions prepare to begin their campaign in Morocco on Wednesday.
The Desert Foxes won their second AFCON title the last time it was played in North Africa, six years ago in Egypt.
However, their title defence three years later in Cameroon ended in first-round elimination with just a single point, and they also failed to win a match in going out in the group stage in Ivory Coast in 2024.
"There is no doubt that we were not good at the last two AFCONs but that is in the past now. All that is behind us," Mahrez said Tuesday in Rabat, where Algeria play Sudan on Wednesday.
"Now we have the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance to make up for what has happened and do better. Tomorrow it is time for this generation."
Algeria will be aiming to live up to their billing as the fourth-best side in Africa according to the FIFA rankings.
A strong showing in Morocco will also set them up for the World Cup in North America in six months, after Algeria qualified for the first time since 2014.
Former Manchester City winger Mahrez, now playing for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, turns 35 in February and so these tournaments may mark his swanswong at international level.
But he is excited about Algeria's new generation, including VfL Wolfsburg forward Mohamed Amoura and the goalkeeper Luca Zidane.
Son of France legend Zinedine, Luca Zidane was born in Marseille and plays for Granada in the Spanish second division.
He made his Algeria debut in October and it is hoped he can be the solution to what has been a problem position for coach Vladimir Petkovic.
"Luca has integrated well into the squad and is trying to give everything for the team," said Mahrez, who was born in France to an Algerian father and a Moroccan mother.
"I know his name is a big weight to carry but he is not letting that get to him."
After Wednesday's game Algeria will also play Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea in a tricky Group E, and their path in the knockout phase could be complicated too.
Winning the section would mean a last-16 tie against the runners-up in Group D which includes Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Meanwhile, finishing second would mean a clash with the winners of Group F, which includes reigning champions Ivory Coast and Cameroon.
P.Costa--AMWN