Riyad Mahrez achieves milestone with Algeria at AFCON

Riyad Mahrez continued to etch his name into Algeria’s football history during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, following his appearance against Burkina Faso in the second round of the group stage.

Bosnian head coach Vladimir Petković included the Al Ahli Jeddah star in the starting lineup, as Mahrez once again led the Desert Warriors on the continental stage.

The match marked Mahrez’s 22nd appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria, making him the joint most-capped Algerian player in the history of the tournament, alongside legendary former player Rabah Madjer. As the current generation’s leader, Mahrez will have the opportunity to break the record in the upcoming matches.

Algeria secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso, a result that proved sufficient to confirm qualification to the Round of 16 of AFCON 2025.

With back-to-back positive results and superiority in head-to-head encounters—particularly against Sudan—Algeria sealed top spot in the group, ensuring progression without the need to wait for other results.

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