The Algerian people only have eyes for themselves. A true revelation at the start of the 2025 African Cup of Nations for the Fennecs, Ibrahim Maza continues to enchant the followers of the selection this winter in Morocco.
A stunning start against Sudan (3-0), a convincing first start against Burkina Faso (1-0), a recital against Equatorial Guinea this Wednesday, December 31 (3-1), all for a record of two goals and an assist in three contested matches: the attacking midfielder from Bayer Leverkusen made a thunderous start to the competition.
To the point of becoming the darling of the national team’s supporters, even though they are so demanding. Her nickname, “Mazadona”, has definitely been adopted on social networks. Even Samir Nasri, the former French international with Algerian origins, praised him: “Maza is really serious, top player,” wrote the consultant for Canal + on his X account during the match this Wednesday.
A one-time technical profile targeted by Nagelsmann
Unknown to the general public before the start of the continental tournament, the playing master of Bayer Leverkusen, already closely followed by FC Barcelona according to several Catalan media, hits the screen with his singular profile. Small in size (1.80 m, 70 kg), the 20-year-old crack seduces with his exceptional technical quality. Able to dribble and pass, like his delicious opening for Farès Chaïbi on the Greens’ second goal against Equatorial Guinea, Maza was bottle-fed with the intensity of German football. The emerging talent manages to adapt when the pace increases, driven by endurance and volume of play already remarkable at his young age.
So many qualities which very quickly placed him on the radar of Julian Nagelsmann, the coach of the German national team. Born in Berlin to an Algerian father and a German-Vietnamese mother, the little right-hander spent several years in the anteroom of the National team. Eight appearances among the U18s and two among the U20s were enough for the boss of the German selection to name Maza among an expanded list of young players closely followed during the course of 2023.
“From a sporting point of view, I had more chances with Algeria”
However, more than a year ago, the one who exploded in the Bundesliga under the colors of Hertha Berlin finally opted for Algeria. A choice of both the heart and the reason for a young Arabic-speaking man, accustomed to going to the country every summer during his childhood to visit his grandparents in the district of El-Harrach, in Algiers and fell in love with the Fennecs during the 2014 World Cup.
“At that moment, I understood what it meant to be Algerian and to defend the colors of my nation,” he told Fifa on the sidelines of his first selection against Togo, on October 10, 2024. “This is what pushed me to work with determination and to believe in my abilities,” revealed the attacking midfielder, deeply marked by the heroic round of 16 by Riyad Mahrez and his teammates lost in overtime against Germany.
On the other hand, Maza has never hidden that his change of sporting nationality was also linked to the fierce competition existing for his position within the German team. “With (Jamal) Musiala, (Florian) Wirtz and others, it would have been very difficult for me to have playing time,” he told Bild to justify his decision. “My goal was to participate in the World Cup. From a purely sporting point of view, I had better chances with Algeria. »
A frankness appreciated by Fennecs supporters, when some dual nationals sometimes lack sincerity. Enough to pave the way for a beautiful love story in the making, which Maza will have to take care of maintaining during the second part of the CAN. Now a full-fledged starter, the spotlight will be on him from Tuesday, during a top round of 16 match against DR Congo.
