Saudi national team legends Mohamed Nour, Hussein Abdel-Ghani and Mohamed Al-Deayea attacked Al-Ahly player Riyad Mahrez due to his poor performances since the start of the current season, and the trio unanimously agreed that the Algerian national team captain has become an ordinary player.
Mahrez has failed to make any significant contributions for Al-Ahly in 4 rounds of the Saudi Professional League, leaving the player with the worst empty goal streak of his career with Jeddah City Club, since his arrival in the summer of 2023.
Mahrez has become a source of criticism from Al-Ahly fans and the Algerian national team as well, as he missed a penalty in the Algeria-Equatorial Guinea match two weeks ago in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and was eliminated in the second half.
Al-Ahly legend Hussein Abdel-Ghani said: “Mahrez has played 3 matches since his return from the Algerian national team, and he did not provide the desired performance, and even the illness excuse he gave was not acceptable. He plays with more enthusiasm, and if he continues in this way, he will not add anything to the team.
#Hussein_Abdel-Ghani: #Mahrez has not yet submitted the add with #Al-Ahly #Our_Girl_Legion pic.twitter.com/9mA0VHofdv
– #Dorina_Ghair (@SBA_sport) September 22, 2024
As for Al-Ittihad legend Mohamed Nour, he explained: “Riyad Mahrez seems to have lost the desire and enthusiasm with Al-Ahly and has no excuses. Even the Algerian national team did not offer anything with Al-Ahly without ambition. (…) I am surprised by the public who applaud him when he pins the ball.
Al-Hilaliya goalkeeping legend Mohamed Al-Deaie agrees with them, saying: “Riyad Mahrez’s problem is poor preparation for the new season. The player is overweight and has obvious physical problems. If he continues like this, the coach could send him back to the bench.”
Mahrez’s problems during the current season have been numerous on and off the pitch, as he was subjected to numerous attacks from local fans for not carrying the Saudi flag during the celebration of the national day in the last match between Al-Ahly and Damak, although the Algerian player published a tweet in which he explained the circumstances of the matter and clarified that he did not obtain the flag in this way. The rest of his teammates are on the pitch.
The pressure on Mahrez has increased recently, whether from Algerian fans, Al-Ahly fans or Saudi fans in general, after the flag incident during the national day, and added to all this is the harsh criticism from Saudi football legends.
