Mahrez eyes strong AFCON showing from Algeria / Photo: KENZO TRIBOUILLARD - AFP/File
CMSD
-0.0500
The Japan Times - Mahrez eyes strong AFCON showing from Algeria
EUR
-
AED 4.190966
AFN 75.888786
ALL 93.743237
AMD 417.676263
AOA 1047.034961
ARS 1686.368553
AUD 1.630494
AWG 2.054115
AZN 1.943052
BAM 1.957103
BBD 2.301753
BDT 140.903815
BHD 0.430979
BIF 3406.623383
BMD 1.141175
BND 1.474162
BOB 12.370182
BRL 5.79329
BSD 1.142771
BTN 109.921705
BWP 16.326013
BYN 3.304829
BYR 22367.026167
BZD 2.29835
CAD 1.608286
CDF 2577.356885
CHF 0.926217
CLF 0.027101
CLP 1066.621597
CNY 7.721246
CNH 7.728892
COP 3689.863201
CRC 518.436093
CUC 1.141175
CUP 30.241132
CVE 110.337981
CZK 24.171
DJF 203.50728
DKK 7.475248
DOP 66.783294
DZD 152.005678
EGP 58.573653
ERN 17.117622
ETB 184.45171
FJD 2.535464
FKP 0.853381
GBP 0.853274
GEL 2.989918
GGP 0.853381
GHS 13.24476
GIP 0.853381
GMD 83.305556
GNF 10026.543971
GTQ 8.716766
GYD 239.048113
HKD 8.94733
HNL 30.605377
HRK 7.535297
HTG 149.35748
HUF 363.873873
IDR 20421.665478
ILS 3.493763
IMP 0.853381
INR 110.141642
IQD 1497.09678
IRR 1569315.061976
ISK 143.011973
JEP 0.853381
JMD 181.119165
JOD 0.809092
JPY 185.975544
KES 147.781243
KGS 99.795756
KHR 4617.013361
KMF 492.9873
KRW 1688.442322
KWD 0.353707
KYD 0.952334
KZT 534.886132
LAK 25838.090024
LBP 102179.601252
LKR 384.344216
LRD 206.846814
LSL 18.787974
LTL 3.369593
LVL 0.690285
LYD 7.325942
MAD 10.715588
MDL 20.107564
MGA 4901.68372
MKD 61.616025
MMK 2395.723171
MNT 4095.689352
MOP 9.230446
MRU 45.664604
MUR 53.966064
MVR 17.631253
MWK 1981.384828
MXN 19.867928
MYR 4.664661
MZN 72.918092
NAD 18.787809
NGN 1573.303944
NIO 42.057449
NOK 10.974667
NPR 175.875099
NZD 1.960733
OMR 0.438785
PAB 1.142756
PEN 3.881484
PGK 5.110335
PHP 70.461801
PKR 317.497275
PLN 4.328448
PYG 6933.677264
QAR 4.165755
RON 5.240732
RSD 117.37102
RUB 89.607226
RWF 1683.121526
SAR 4.286249
SBD 9.214603
SCR 15.305802
SDG 685.27103
SEK 11.075427
SGD 1.472692
SLE 27.787347
SOS 653.057555
SRD 43.036558
STD 23620.014429
STN 24.516001
SVC 9.999658
SZL 18.785672
THB 38.567717
TJS 10.564988
TMT 3.994112
TND 3.380636
TRY 53.883587
TTD 7.758165
TWD 37.008639
TZS 3012.699211
UAH 51.145203
UGX 4245.808294
USD 1.141175
UYU 45.950393
UZS 13699.120998
VES 840.258989
VND 30032.867915
VUV 136.321585
WST 3.129068
XAF 656.31634
XAG 0.01915
XAU 0.000277
XCD 3.084082
XCG 2.059571
XDR 0.816247
XOF 656.399789
XPF 119.331742
YER 272.226891
ZAR 18.773273
ZMK 10271.934735
ZMW 20.942127
ZWL 367.457821
- Fury says 'best yet to come' ahead of Thailand fight
- Ukraine's new army chief: who is Mykhailo Drapaty?
- Japan suffers heat 'disaster as cities hit by 'cruelly hot' days
- India student protests keep up pressure on Modi government
- In Kazakhstan, emptying villages and overcrowded cities
- Italian FA chief says in touch with Guardiola over coaching vacancy
- Hitler's Austrian birthplace transformed into police station
- Cooler inflation hands new UK PM Burnham an early boost
- Mideast conflict lifts Brent back above $94, stocks give up gains
- Bezos holds talks with group interested in buying Liverpool stake: reports
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.
S.Yamada--JT
