Africa-Press – Eritrea. Algerian captain Riyad Mahrez has shared his thoughts ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), set to be hosted in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The former Manchester City winger and current player of Al-Ahli labeled the Atlas Lions as the outright favorites for the tournament but cautioned that playing on home soil will come with its own set of challenges.
“Morocco are favorites; they’re at home,” Mahrez said. “They’re going to be under pressure.”
The 32-year-old, who lifted the AFCON trophy with Algeria in 2019, stressed that while Morocco’s squad is stacked with top talent playing across Europe, the expectations of the home crowd could prove decisive in their campaign.
Morocco head into the tournament as one of Africa’s most in-form teams, having reached the semifinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. With stars like Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech, and Sofiane Amrabat in their ranks, they are widely tipped to mount a strong challenge.
However, Mahrez’s comments highlight the fine balance between advantage and pressure that comes with hosting the continent’s biggest football competition.
The Atlas Lions will be chasing the AFCON crown on home soil.
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