Former Algeria international Riyad Mahrez has joined a number of the country’s football stars in expressing solidarity with victims of fires that have swept through several provinces, causing deaths and significant material damage.
The fires, which broke out across parts of Algeria on Wednesday and Thursday, 26 and 27 August, have prompted a national response, with communities mobilising to support those affected.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared three days of national mourning following the losses caused by the fires. The decision also included the cancellation of celebrations and sporting events during the mourning period.
Mahrez was among the prominent figures to publicly react to the disaster, using his social media platforms to convey his support for those affected.
Mahrez posts emotional message
The former Al-Ahli Jeddah player shared a short message on his personal Instagram account after the fires spread across Algerian cities.
Mahrez posted an image showing forests affected by the flames and accompanied it with an emoji depicting two broken hearts.
He later shared a video featuring a young child watching the fires that were raging in Algeria.
The posts represented Mahrez’s public expression of sympathy at a time when the country was dealing with the human and material consequences of the fires.
The former captain was not alone among Algeria’s footballing community in responding to the tragedy.
Several current and former members of the national team also used social media to express their distress and support for the victims.
Algeria stars join Mahrez in solidarity
Players including Youcef Belaïli, Baghdad Bounedjah, Adel Boulabina, Ramy Bensebaini, Luca Zidane and Nabil Bentaleb were among the Algerian football figures who reacted to the fires.
The players expressed their anguish over the situation and offered messages of solidarity to those who had suffered losses.
Some of the most affected areas include forests in Jijel province, east of the capital Algiers. At the time of the report, fires were still burning in some locations.
The response from the national team’s players reflects the close connection between Algeria’s footballers and events taking place across the country.
Their messages also came as Algerian citizens and authorities rallied around communities affected by the fires.
The widespread public response has created a sense of unity, cooperation and mutual support as the country deals with the latest emergency.
The national mourning period declared by President Tebboune has further underscored the seriousness of the situation.
Football schedule disrupted
The impact of the fires has also extended to Algerian football, with the country’s football authorities postponing the opening round of the Algerian Professional League.
The first round had originally been scheduled for 27, 28 and 29 August, but the Algerian Football Federation announced that the matches would instead be played the following week.
The postponement coincides with the three-day national mourning period announced for the victims of the fires.
The decision means that football activities have temporarily taken a back seat as the country focuses on those affected by the disaster.
For Algeria’s football stars, the tragedy has provided another opportunity to demonstrate their connection with their country away from the pitch.
Mahrez’s posts, followed by messages from several members of the national team, have highlighted the wider role football figures can play during moments of national difficulty.
The fires have caused both human and material losses across several Algerian provinces, while efforts to deal with the consequences continue.
With some fires reportedly still burning, the expressions of solidarity from Mahrez and his fellow international players have come amid a broader national effort to support victims and affected communities.
The postponement of league matches and cancellation of celebrations during the mourning period are further signs of the scale of the tragedy.
For now, Algeria’s sporting community is standing alongside the wider population as the country mourns those who lost their lives and deals with the destruction caused by the fires.
