Bayer Leverkusen starlet Ibrahim Maza shining on the international stage for Algeria

In Friday evening’s Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifier between Algeria and Zambia, the 20-year-old midfielder played the full 90 minutes as his side – buoyed by fellow Bundesliga stars Ramy Bensebaini of Borussia Dortmund and Farès Chaïbi of Eintracht Frankfurt - cruised to a 3-1 victory. The positive result came in no small part thanks to Maza’s individual contribution of a goal and an assist in the second half.

The Leverkusen man’s strike came at a crucial juncture, with him smashing home at the near post to restore Algeria’s advantage after Zambia had drawn level shortly after the second half got under way. Maza then followed up his strike with an impressive back-heeled assist for Algeria’s third of the evening to seal the victory.