Algerian football star Riyad Mahrez, currently playing for Saudi club Al Ahli, has expressed strong belief in his entitlement to the African Best Player award for the best player of the 2022-2023 season.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is set to bestow this prestigious honor on December 11 in a ceremony in Marrakech, Morocco.
In an interview with the French newspaper “L’Équipe,” Mahrez reflected on his extraordinary past season and his chances of clinching the African Golden Ball award amidst intense competition from several European football stars.
The former Manchester City ace stated, “For the African Golden Ball, there are always Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane as strong contenders, but they had a challenging season on the team level. I won three titles last season and recorded 20 goals and 15 assists internationally.”
Mahrez, known for his exceptional performance in the English Premier League and the FA Cup, albeit less impactful in the Champions League, has been a consistent force in these prestigious tournaments over the past seasons.
The Algerian international also acknowledged Yassine Bounou’s push for the award following his triumph in the Europa League and outstanding World Cup performance with Morocco.
However, Mahrez believes that his historic treble with Manchester City is incomparable, adding intrigue to the upcoming award decision.
