Young talent Ibrahim Maza , star of German club Hertha Berlin, has established himself as a rising star in Algerian football, becoming the new hope for the "Desert Warriors" in their quest to regain continental and global prominence. This remarkable emergence comes at a time when the Algerian national team is seeking to rejuvenate its squad and build a new generation capable of repeating the success of 2019.
A fiery start and immediate impact
Maza, 20, made a strong impression in his first appearance at the continental tournament, establishing himself from the opening match against Sudan. He came on as a substitute for his compatriot Fares Chaibi, who plays for Eintracht Frankfurt, and scored the third goal (3-0), marking his first international goal and the 100th goal for the "Desert Foxes" in the tournament's history.
Maza did not stop there, but confirmed his high attacking skills in the third match, where he created the second goal for Chaibi with a precise decisive pass, before he shook the net himself, reinforcing the Algerian superiority with a hat-trick, benefiting from the pass of his teammate Anis Hadj Moussa.
The strategy of rejuvenating the Algerian national team
Maza's brilliance comes within the broader context of the Algerian Football Federation's (FAF) strategy to attract dual-nationality talents who have developed in European academies. Born to an Algerian father and a German mother of Vietnamese descent, Maza exemplifies the success of this policy, having increased his goal contributions to seven in his last nine matches for both club and country (three goals and four assists).
The Algerian sports community is counting on these young names to replace the golden generation led by Riyad Mahrez, especially with important events approaching, such as the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Widespread praise from Petkovic and Bennacer
This impressive performance did not go unnoticed, as Bosnian-Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic praised the young player's abilities. In a press conference on the eve of the round of 16 match against the Democratic Republic of Congo, Petkovic affirmed that Maza and his teammate Anis Hadj Moussa (23 years old) represent the cornerstone of the future of Algerian football.
Petkovic said: “Hadj Moussa and Maza will be an important part of the future of Algerian football. Gaining experience during this tournament is extremely important for them, as they represent the future of Algerian football.”.
Ismaël Bennacer, the best player at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, praised his new teammate, saying: “Maza is a very talented and skillful player. We saw that he is very mature for his age on the pitch, and we hope he will help us win all the matches.” Regarding Maza wearing the number 22 jersey, which Bennacer previously wore, the former AC Milan star commented: “It’s a nice coincidence. I wish him great matches and hope he helps us progress.”.
Talent clash: The choice between Germany and Algeria
Before joining the Algerian national team, Maza had attracted the attention of the German Football Association, having played for Germany's youth teams (under 18 and under 20). Despite being on the radar of Julian Nagelsmann, the coach of the German national team, Maza ultimately decided to represent Algeria.
In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Maza explained that the fierce competition for his position, with stars like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, was a sporting reason, but his heart called him. He said, "From a sporting perspective, my chances were better with Algeria, and my goal is to participate in the World Cup.".
The player, whose name has been linked to reports indicating interest from major clubs such as Barcelona, added that his love for Algeria stemmed from his summer visits to the El Harrach neighborhood in the capital, and his being moved by Algeria's epic match against Germany in the 2014 World Cup, saying: "At that moment, I understood what it means to be Algerian and to defend the colors of your country.".
