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The Nairobian

Africa Cup of Nations: MAHREZ READY FOR TEST: All eyes on Leicester winger as Algeria seek safe passage

Football

By SAMMY KITULA, in LIBREVILLE | Jan 15, 2017

**Riyad Mahrez celebrates after scoring the first goal for Leicester Reuters**

Riyad Mahrez was sporting a shy, but warm smile when he arrived here with his teammates, ready for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Going by his dress code, he is no doubt a keen follower of fashion trends. His white T-shirt and matching tracksuit is good for the otherwise sweltering heat. His sartorial elegance is not in doubt.

It is obvious the Leicester City player likes to look his best off the field too. When it comes to footballing philosophy, Mahrez’s way of life is simple: keep his fans on their toes.

Entertain them the best way he knows how. And why not? He was voted Africa’s Player of the Year in the January 5 CAF Awards.

His prowess with the ball has never been in doubt; well, if we dwell on the Mahrez who scored 17 goals to help Leicester win a shock English Premier League title last season. He was a phenomenon to behold. But despite going through a rough patch, Mahrez is a top-notch player.

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On a good day, when the winger steps into the field, he oozes class. His deft touches, his effortless side-steps while under attack from a forest of legs, or when completing those breathtaking passes through the eye of a defensive needle, are just but some of the ingredients of Mahrez’s rich arsenal.

How did this marvel hone his skills? On which grounds did the mercurial Mahrez learn how entertain with such superb dexterity. How about his philosophy? What drives him? Any regrets with his current form as well as that of the league champions? Do they (Algeria) have a chance of winning their second African title? Finding out was my mission, the moment I spotted him.

“Africa has a lot of good teams and we are in a big group. We have to deal with it,” he said. I prodded for more.

But six words summed up my curiosity. “We will see how it goes,” was all he offered in relation to my question on their expectations here. And even before some journalists could ask more questions, he was gone, the 2016 Africa player of the Year.

Granted, his form is dipping, a big worry to his team and its faithful fans, but he knows what is expected of him and company when they line-up against the less-fancied Zimbabwe tonight from 7pm (Kenyan time).

Underneath his serene look, the will to succeed was evident in his eyes and so was it with his head coach, George Leekens. “My dream and goal is to win our first two matches. That will guarantee us qualification to the knockouts,” Leekens said.