‘We expect the match to be more open, which will give us more space’ - Mahrez believes his team can exploit Super Eagles

The Desert Warriors booked their spot in the last eight with a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo, setting up a highly anticipated showdown with the Super Eagles.

Both Nigeria and Algeria head into the match with perfect records in the tournament, having each won all four of their games in Morocco.

While the Super Eagles have been formidable in attack, scoring a tournament-high 12 goals, Algeria has been just as impressive defensively, conceding only once to boast the competition's best defensive record.

Looking ahead to the quarterfinal, Mahrez highlighted the contrasting playing styles of the two nations. 

He suggested that Nigeria's approach will likely lead to a more open and expansive game than Algeria's previous match.

The former Manchester City star anticipates a high-quality encounter between two of the continent's most in-form teams.

"In our next match, we will face a different opponent compared to DR Congo," Mahrez told reporters. 

"We expect the next match to be more open, which will give us more space to showcase our abilities, and we must be fully prepared."

Meanwhile, Mahrez has claimed they know Super Eagles well and are not scared of facing Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman

The clash between Nigeria and Algeria is set for Saturday at the Marrakesh Stadium. The winner will advance to the semifinals to play either Morocco or Cameroon.