Algeria Favored to Beat Jordan by 2 Goals in Key Group Match

Q: Will tonight's match establish Mohamed Amoura as Algeria's new talisman over veteran Riyad Mahrez?

No. The evidence from Algeria’s 2-1 win over Jordan points the other way: Riyad Mahrez reinforced his status as Algeria’s main reference point rather than ceding it to Mohamed Amoura. Mahrez returned to the starting lineup after being benched against Argentina and was widely described as influential. He supplied the corner for Nadhir Benbouali’s equalizer and was again portrayed as the player through whom much of Algeria’s best attacking play still flows. Reports from the match explicitly framed him as the captain, leader and talisman. Amoura remains a serious contender for that role over the longer term. He came into the tournament with strong credentials, including 10 goals in World Cup qualifying and a reputation for pace, dribbling and direct attacking threat. Some pre-match analysis even suggested he could be emerging as Algeria’s next attacking focal point, especially as Mahrez, at 35, moves into the later stage of his career. But this match did not become the symbolic handover. The decisive attacking contributions against Jordan came from Mahrez’s assist and goals by Benbouali and Amine Gouiri. There is no comparable evidence from this game that Amoura seized the spotlight or clearly displaced Mahrez in influence. So the broader succession question remains open, but on the basis of this match, Mahrez is still Algeria’s talisman, while Amoura remains the likely heir rather than the confirmed successor.

3 articles · Updated · Covers · Jun 23

Algeria are tipped to take all three points against Jordan on Monday after both sides opened their 2026 World Cup campaigns with defeats.
3-0 and 3-1 losses in their first group games have left Algeria and Jordan chasing points, but Algeria's deeper squad and stronger attacking quality make them the pick.
Amine Gouiri, Riyad Mahrez and Mohammed Amoura headline an Algeria attack expected to exploit a Jordan defense that conceded at least two goals in each of its five pre-tournament matches.
Over 2.5 goals is also favored, with Jordan seeing four of their last five matches clear 3.5 goals and only one of Algeria's previous 14 World Cup games ending scoreless.
The match is set for Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, with no reported injuries for either side as Jordan seek a first win in nine matches.