Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez has called for focus and vigilance despite his team’s strong position in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The Desert Foxes strengthened their hold on Group G with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Mozambique on Tuesday night at the Stade Hocine Aït Ahmed. The dominant performance extended their lead to three points at the top of the table, but Mahrez remains cautious.

“We started the match well, created several scoring opportunities, controlled the ball well, and put a lot of pressure on our opponents. However, we cannot say that we played a perfect match, it was just good,” Mahrez remarked after the game.

Despite the resounding win, the former Manchester City star emphasized that their journey to the World Cup is far from over.

“We are very happy with this victory, but we have not yet secured qualification. We still have four matches to go, and we must focus on winning them to secure a place in the World Cup,” he added.

Mozambique, Algeria’s closest challengers in the group, remain within striking distance. Mahrez acknowledged the stiff competition and the challenges that come with African qualifiers.

“The Mozambique national team achieved positive results and remained close to us in the standings. Now we have to maintain the points difference. We know that matches in Africa are not easy, but we have to prove ourselves,” he noted.

With four games remaining, the Desert Foxes aim to keep their momentum and clinch an early ticket to the 2026 World Cup.