Hemdani refuses to discuss Mahrez!

Sep 28, 2026

In a series of questions about Riyad Mahrez ahead of the match against Burundi, Brahim Hemdani quickly dismissed the topic, emphasizing that his focus was entirely on the upcoming encounter for the Greens.

The press conference held by Brahim Hemdani before the clash with Burundi took a particular turn regarding Riyad Mahrez. A journalist present initially asked the national coach about the former captain of the Greens and his absence, which visibly surprised Hemdani, who deemed the question unrelated to the immediate concerns of the Algerian team.

With an expression marked by confusion, Hemdani swiftly ended the discussion. “We are here to prepare for a match against Burundi and to try to achieve the best possible result. Everything else is just details that do not interest me personally,” stated the Algerian coach, clearly reluctant to dwell on a subject that has been irrelevant for several weeks.

Shortly after, another journalist brought up the topic again by mentioning Mahrez. Hemdani did not hesitate. “I have already answered this question to one of your colleagues. We are focused on the match and nothing else. All our attention is on that and on the goal of achieving the best possible result,” he reaffirmed, seeking to steer the conference back to the sporting stakes of the match against Burundi.

In response to the repeated questions, the FAF spokesperson, Saïd Fellak, ultimately sought to clarify the situation: “I want to remind everyone that Riyad Mahrez retired from international duty following the 2026 World Cup; this is information to take into account.” This clarification suggests that some journalists present were not aware of this decision, or at least that their questions might imply otherwise.

DZfoot