FROM OUR MAN IN RABAT
RIYAD MAHREZ was the cool king of the desert today as he fired Algeria to the brink of the AFCON knockouts—sending the Stade Prince Moulay El Hassan into a frenzy.
The former Manchester City star didn’t blink as he smashed home a 23rd-minute penalty, securing a 1-0 win over a stubborn Burkina Faso in the Group E showdown.
While Mahrez provided the magic, the real star of the show was the Moulay Hassan Stadium itself.
Nestled in the heart of Rabat’s El Youssoufia district, the 22,000-capacity arena felt like a pressure cooker. With the stands packed to the rafters, the Algerian “Greens” turned this corner of Morocco into a home away from home.
The atmosphere inside the boutique stadium was electric from the first whistle.
Every touch by an Algerian player was greeted with a wall of noise that echoed off the stadium’s modern, cantilevered roof.
It wasn’t just a football match; it was a Moroccan carnival.
The lush, natural grass pitch—immaculate despite the heavy tournament schedule—allowed for the slick, zippy passing that eventually forced the Stallions of Burkina Faso into a fatal mistake.
THE GOAL: Mahrez stepped up after a clumsy challenge in the box, sending the keeper the wrong way to net his third goal of the tournament.
THE SCENE: The Moulay Hassan erupts. Flares, flags, and the famous Algerian roar made the stadium shake.
Burkina Faso tried to fight back, but the tight, intimate confines of the Moulay Hassan seemed to hem them in.
Every time they looked to break, the sheer proximity of the Algerian fans seemed to suck the ball toward the Fennecs’ goal.
Algeria boss Vladimir Petković will be delighted with the result, which all but guarantees them a spot in the Round of 16.
For the Stallions, it’s back to the drawing board before they head to Casablanca for their final group clash.
But tonight, Rabat belongs to the Algerians. Under the bright lights of the Moulay Hassan, the Desert Foxes proved they are the big dogs of Group E.
