Mahrez: 'We Didn't Lose Due to Refereeing, Nigeria Was Better'

Riyad Mahrez, captain of the Algerian national team, affirmed that their elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after a 2-0 loss to Nigeria was a result of facing a strong opponent who asserted their superiority. He stressed the importance of overcoming the disappointment and moving forward.

Mahrez told reporters after the match: "We were a little late in our positioning, and perhaps we lacked balance. We faced a very strong team, and we didn't manage to keep possession of the ball in the first half in a way that would allow us to threaten them."

He continued: "Ultimately, this is the truth; they were better than us, and that's part of football. We must now continue to work and move forward."

The captain of the 'Greens' added: "We did everything we could to qualify, but we came up against a stronger team, and this happens in football."

Regarding the refereeing, Mahrez explained: "Everyone saw what happened. Of course, we didn't lose because of this (the refereeing), but the referee was quick to show us yellow cards, while he didn't do the same with them (Nigeria). High-level football is decided by small details, but this is football."

Mahrez concluded his statements by emphasizing that the Algerian national team must overcome this difficult period and learn from the lessons of the tournament, in preparation for upcoming challenges.