Algerian international striker Aymen Mahious hailed the great progress that African football has made in recent years, emphasizing that the teams – whether local or national A – have reached a significant milestone across the continent.
The Golden Boot winner from the previous edition of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) particularly highlighted this development. As the all-time leading scorer in the competition, Mahious confirmed that the Fennecs are aiming for the ultimate victory in the current edition of the CHAN, reserved for players playing in local leagues, and currently co-hosted by three East African countries: Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. In an exclusive interview with the official website of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), CAFonline.com, Mahious recalled a painful memory that he still keeps in mind: the decisive penalty missed in the 2022 CHAN final against Senegal, played at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers, which gave the continental title to the Lions of Teranga. The striker also reflected on Algeria’s impressive opening victory against the host country, Uganda, at the CHAN 2024 “Bamoja,” as well as his experience abroad and his return to the national championship.
You started the TotalEnergies CHAN 2024 with a big win. A strong message. What is your reaction?
Yes, a first victory with three goals scored, and therefore three important points. We now hope to maintain this level – or even do better – in the next matches to gain even more points.
Did you expect such a start, with a 3-0 victory against the host country, Uganda?
We wanted to come into the competition strong, but we didn’t necessarily expect to win by a three-goal margin. Uganda is the host country, and we respected them for that, especially since they were playing at home and in front of their fans. We applied the instructions of the technical staff well, and this allowed us to control the match and tilt it in our favor.
You are Algeria’s all-time top scorer in the CHAN, with 9 goals scored in the last edition, which earned you the Golden Boot. Do you aspire to retain this title?
My priority is to help my team above all else. The goals will then come naturally. Our collective goal is to win our matches and win the title. In the last edition, I finished as top scorer, but we lost in the final. This time, I hope to win the final and offer the trophy to our country.
What did you say to each other as players after the victory against Uganda? And what did coach Madjid Bougherra say to you?
The coach congratulated us on our performance, and we thanked him in turn. It is thanks to his game plan that we were able to win. We have a balanced group, with young and experienced players.
Many of those who came on in the second half have already played in the African Champions League or the Confederation Cup. We must capitalize on this experience to move forward step by step. We do not consider ourselves favorites, and we must prove our worth in every match.
What is your opinion on the level of this edition of the CHAN, and more generally on the state of African football today?
African football is progressing enormously, both at the level of local and national A teams. The game has evolved a lot, and all the teams now play quality football. Regarding the current CHAN, it is still too early to assess the overall level, because we are only in the group stage. This is a preparation phase. The real level emerges over the course of the knockout matches.
You played in Switzerland before returning to Algeria. What difference do you see between European and African football?
In Africa, and in Algeria in particular, the passion for football is immense. This is probably why I didn’t adapt in Switzerland.
In Algeria, we grow up with the pressure of matches, the pressure of results, the requirement to play leading roles.
In Europe, supporters more easily accept defeat or a draw. Here, the pressure is constant, and that is what makes our football beautiful. This pushes us to go out on the field to win, in every match.
What do you promise the Algerian public for this edition of the CHAN?
We hope to live up to expectations and honor the national colors.
Our supporters expect a lot from us, as does the Algerian people. We will give everything to make them proud, and the rest is in God’s hands.