Riyad Mahrez (Saudi Al-Ahly Football Player) considered that he was most deserving of winning the African Golden Ball given his title-filled season with Manchester City in the 2022-2023 season.
The Algerian national team star said in an interview with the French newspaper “L’Equipe” that will be published on Tuesday, “With regard to the Ballon d’Or, there is always Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane among the candidates, without a doubt, for the coronation, like every season, but on the collective level, the season was difficult for them. I won 3 titles last season.” “I scored 20 goals and made 15. My season was special and wonderful.”
Mahrez added that he was among the best performing players in the English Premier League as well as the FA Cup, and less influential in the Champions League. Throughout the past seasons, “I have always been influential in this special tournament.”
He believes that there is a logic to “winning the African Ballon d’Or. I heard that they were trying to bring in Moroccan goalkeeper Bono. It is true that he won the European League and excelled in the World Cup, but this does not compare to the historic treble for Manchester City.”
On December 11, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is expected to award the Best Continental Player Award for the 2022-2023 season, at a ceremony that will be held in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh.
Nations of Africa
The Algerian international stressed that “the African Cup of Nations has a special character and that Ivory Coast is the most likely to win the title due to hosting the tournament on its soil. Africa is a special continent, and has special circumstances. The best prepared team, and with a little luck, will succeed in reaching the final.”
The leader of the “Desert Warriors” believes that in the African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, “there are many strong teams. It is true that we have experience with the Greens. We won the tournament in 2019, and in the 2022 tournament we were eliminated in the first round. We know this tournament and how difficult it is, it is up to us.” .
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