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Tag: Algeria

  • CHAN: I doff my hat to my players – Algeria coach, Bougherra

    CHAN: I doff my hat to my players – Algeria coach, Bougherra

    Algeria’s coach Madjid Bougherra on Sunday expressed his satisfaction with his players’ performance in the group stage of the African Nations Championship 2022 (CHAN) in Algiers.

    This was after the Desert Foxes clinched a 100 percent record in the group stage after matches in Group A of the tournament they are hosting were concluded on Saturday.

    The hosts sealed their third victory of the tournament at the expense of Mozambique with a slender 1-0 victory on Saturday at Nelson Mandela stadium in Algiers.

    “Our players did their best to be in the quarter-finals of the competition and I raise my hat to them.

    “We are currently in the quarter-finals and happy because we did not concede any goals in the three matches.

    “We played well in the first half against Mozambique but they pressed us in the second and we did well to defend,” said the coach.

    “We had opportunities to get into the dangerous areas but we were a bit unlucky with the final finish. It is great that we did not concede goals.

    “There are some cases that we must take into account, and there are also things that we must do carefully, and I repeated several things with the players which they are gradually getting right,” he added.

    Bougherra also touched on the close relationship he has built with the first team coach, Djamel Belmadi, who has been in attendance at all of Algeria’s matches in Algiers.

    “Belmadi is part of our preparations and encourages our players. He has been in contact with us for a long time and I give him some reports regarding the playing system.

    “He follows the players closely and the players are happy to have his support. The coach is also a close friend of mine. So, his support is really appreciated.”

    Bougherra also defended his players on some of the casual mistakes made in their matches.

    “It is true that in the match there are positive and negative things. Against Mozambique we focused on direct play. Everyone looks at football in their own way.

    “We must respect our players who do their work and should be saluted. We are ready to listen to criticism, but we must encourage them. I know that our players are under pressure, but they have achieved three victories”.

    The coach added he he was happy their next match would still be in Algiers as the support from the locals played a crucial role in their good run at the group stage.

  • CHAN: How Algeria defeated Ethiopia to book quarter-final ticket

    CHAN: How Algeria defeated Ethiopia to book quarter-final ticket

    Algeria cemented their Group A lead after registering their second win of the TotalEnergies African Nations Champions with a hard fought 1-0 triumph over Ethiopia at sold-out Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on Tuesday evening.

    A solitary strike by Aimen Mahious in the second half was enough to see the hosts march on in the competition and effectively book a place in the knockout stages of the competition.

    As expected, Algeria wasted no time in asserting themselves against the East Africans, who came into the clash with their heads held high following their resilient display in their opening match against Mozambique over the weekend.

    While Algeria had most of the possession in the opening minutes, they could not do much to hurt Ethiopia, who did well to keep them at bay and away from the dangerous positions.

    As a result, the hosts were forced to ask questions of the keeper from a distance, with the first attempt being a stinging effort by Ahmed Kendouci, who fired from a distance but found an equally alert Farid Chaal, who did well to make the save in the 21st minute.

    Ethiopia almost stunned the home crowd after Chernet Beshah let fly from the edge of the box but couldn’t get enough curl on his strike that went inches wide of goal in the 25th minute.

    With just seconds left to the end of the opening half, Kendouci almost found the opener after his close range header from a Mezieane Tahar cross was saved by the alert Chaal.

    Coming into the second half, Algeria continued where they left off with their high pressing game and eventually broke the deadlock after a well taken corner was flicked by Chouhaib Keddad to find Aimen Mahious, who showed great improvisation to control the ball and fire home in the 52nd minute.

    Mahious almost doubled his tally in the 67th minute after connecting with a brilliant cross from Zineddine Belaid but saw his effort go agonisingly wide off goal.

    Chaal had to come to the rescue yet again in the 77th minute after his defence allowed Tahar some space on the edge of the box, who’s fierce shot had to be parried to safety by the keeper.

    Kenean Maleko could have secured a late for his side after squandering a golden opportunity with just the keeper at his mercy following and fired straight at Fasil Welderebriel who did well to make the save and secure the victory for the hosts.

    Algeria will wrap up their Group matches with a tie against a high in confidence Mozambique side who overcame Libya in the earlier fixture while Ethiopia will look to win in the final group match against a wounded Libya side who sit at the bottom of the group.

  • CHAN: Host Algeria seek quarter-final qualification against Ethiopia

    CHAN: Host Algeria seek quarter-final qualification against Ethiopia

    Madjid Bougherra the head coach of the Algeria CHAN team, has said that his team will play its final group game as though it’s the final.

    Algeria started well when they defeated Libya 1-0 at the Nelson Mandela stadium in Algiers on Friday.

    Bougherra said “So listen as I said before we see every single match as a final, it is an important match for both teams. One team stays in the race to qualify. A team like us has to win tomorrow’s match to qualify,” said Madjid Bougherra, the Algeria head coach.

    Algerian players are now upbeat and are hoping for positive results in their second game against Ethiopia who are also hoping to record first win in the tournament.

    “We managed to win in the first game. The first game is important, we have passed that test (match against Libya), we have another match, another final against Ethiopia,” said Zakaria Draoui, the Algerian midfielder.

    Recall that Ethiopia could only manage a draw in their first match against Mozambique on Saturday.

    The stadiums has already sold full capacity of 41,000 tickets as at Sunday.

    Algeria will maximise on the return of Aymen Mahious who score the first winning goal but suffered a minor injury during the opener but will still miss the services of Chouaib Debbih.

  • Morocco withdraw from CHAN, blame Algeria

    Morocco withdraw from CHAN, blame Algeria

    Morocco will not take part in the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN) being held in Algeria, the Moroccan football federation said on Thursday.

    This was after the Algerian government rejected Morocco’s request for the team to fly there directly on Morocco’s national airline.

    Algeria closed its airspace to Moroccan aircraft in 2021 after it unilaterally severed diplomatic ties with its North African neighbour.

    Morocco are the current title-holders of CHAN, which is for players under the age of 23 who still play in African countries.

    The tournament starts on Friday and finishes on Feb. 4.

    The football authorities in Rabat had written to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to say Morocco would only take part if its team could take a direct flight to Algeria with Royal Air Maroc.

    Morocco’s senior national team last month became the first from an African country to reach the World Cup semi-finals, raising the global profile of Moroccan football.

    Algeria and Morocco are at odds over a range of issues, including the future of Western Sahara, a territory Morocco regards as its own but where Algeria backs an armed independence movement.

  • Morocco, Algeria set to submit bids to host 2025 AFCON

    Morocco, Algeria set to submit bids to host 2025 AFCON

    North African countries of  Algeria and Morocco are competing with Nigeria and Republic du Benin’s joint bid for the hosting right of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, (AFCON) tournament.

    Recall that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Sunday that it has withdrawn the hosting right of the competition from Guinea Conakry.

    CAF took the decision due to the country’s lack of quality infrastructure and facilities to host the 24-team competition.

    Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation,  (NFF) Amaju Melvin Pinnick, had earlier mentioned a joint bid from Nigeria and its neighbour Republic du Benin for the 2025 AFCON.

    However, thay  now face stiff competition from the two North African giants who already boast of well equipped facilities for the hosting of the tournament.

    Algerian Football Federation, Zefizef Djahid has already confirmed that his country will submit a bid to host the competition.

    “Algeria has all the capabilities to host the 2025 African Cup of Nations,” Djahid told Egyptian club, Kingfut.com.

    Morocco is expected to submit a bid to host the competition in the coming days.

    Algeria has been given the nod to host the 2023 CHAN tournament for home based African footballers.

    The competition will be held in January 2023 in four Algerian cities.

    Morocco hosted the 2022 female AFCON and it was largely a big success.

  • International Friendly: Iwobi blames referee for loss to Algeria

    International Friendly: Iwobi blames referee for loss to Algeria

    Super Eagles and Everton ,midfielder, Alex Iwobi, has blamed the loss to Algeria on the centre referee Mehrez Malki and his assistants Y. Malloulchi and F. Jridi

    Super Eagles lost to Algeria by 2-1 in the second international friendly encounter with Algeria in Oran.

    Malki was at the centre of controversy after he ruled out a goal scored by Ademola Lookman in the first half.

    If the goal had stood, the Super Eagles would have gone 2-0 up, following Terem Moffi’s opener.

    But shortly before halftime, the referee awarded Algeria a controversial penalty, which Riyad Mahrez converted to make it 1-1.

    Youcef Atal’s long range shot and consequent howler by goalie Francis Uzoho ensured victory for the Desert foxes.

    Iwobi felt that the Nigeria team should have won or at least drawn the game.

    He made his feelings known on his Twitter handle

  • FIFA turns down Algeria request to replay Worldcup play-off with Cameroon

    FIFA turns down Algeria request to replay Worldcup play-off with Cameroon

    FIFA has turned down Algeria’s request to have Worldcup play-off against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon replayed, saying it is now case closed.

    Algeria won the first leg of the play-off 1-0 in March but lost the return leg 2-1 at home after extra time to miss out on one of the five berths at the finals for African nations.

    “FIFA can confirm that the Algerian Football Federation submitted a complaint to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee in relation to the FIFA World Cup qualifier Algeria vs Cameroon played on 29 March 2022, and subsequently FAF also requested to have FIFA’s Referee Committee feedback,” a FIFA spokesperson told AFP on Saturday.

    The committee reports states that “all the incidents that occurred during the match were carefully examined by the two video referees, in accordance with the Laws of the Game and the protocol of video assistance to the referee”.

    After 90 minutes in Blida, Cameroon led 1-0. In the 28th minute of extra time, Ahmed Touba scored a goal that would have put Algeria through, but Karl Toko Ekambi replied in the fourth minute of added time at the end of extra time.

    The Algerian federation said the refereeing of the second leg by Gambian Bakary Gassama was “scandalous”.

    Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi repeatedly blasted the refereeing in the match and in Africa in general.

  • 10 dead after gas leak in residential building

    10 dead after gas leak in residential building

    Algerian civil defence service said at least 10 people were killed in an explosion in a residential building that was caused by gas leak that subsequently led to the collapse of the building.

    The explosion which occurred in Algeria’s Bordj Bou Arreridj province left 10 dead and 16 others injured.

    According to the local civil defence, it remains unclear exactly how many people were inside the building when the incident took place.

    Algerian news website Ennaharonline reported that among the fatalities was nine-month-old baby.

  • Algeria seeks replay of World Cup playoff against Cameroon

    Algeria seeks replay of World Cup playoff against Cameroon

    The Algeria Football Federation (FAF) has called for a replay of their World Cup playoff clash against Cameroon and lodged a complaint with FIFA over the match’s refereeing.

    The Federation claimed the officiating “distorted the result”.

    Karl Toko Ekambi delivered the decisive strike in the fourth added minute of extra time in Blida on Tuesday to condemn Algeria to a 2-1 aggregate loss on away goals.

    Cameroon went on to qualify for Qatar 2022.

    Islam Slimani saw two goals ruled out, the first in the second half and again in extra time.

    Referee Bakary Gassama initially allowing the latter goal to stand before using the pitch-side monitor to deem the Algeria striker had handled the ball.

    Charaf-Eddine Amara has resigned as president of FAF in the wake of Algeria’s exit from World Cup qualifying, while the federation has lodged an appeal to world governing body FIFA.

    “The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has lodged an appeal with the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) against the scandalous arbitration which distorted the result of the Algeria-Cameroon playoff,” the statement read.

    “The FAF is determined to use all legally permitted means to have its rights restored and to replay the match under conditions guaranteeing the honesty and partiality of the arbitration.

    “The FAF also requests the opening of an investigation by FIFA bodies to shed light on the arbitration of the Algeria-Cameroon match.”

    The draw for the group stage of the World Cup is set to take place on Friday.

  • AFCON: Cote d’Ivoire send title-holders Algeria back home

    AFCON: Cote d’Ivoire send title-holders Algeria back home

    Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday extracted some revenge by beating Algeria 3-1 to finish top of Group E and eliminate the title-holders from the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    The Elephants produced a dominant performance in Douala to sink the reigning champions with goals from Franck Yannick Kessie, Ibrahim Sangare and Nicolas Pepe.

    The Desert Foxes who beat the Ivorians after penalty kicks in the quarter-finals of the 2019 competition in Egypt reduced the deficit 17 minutes through substitute Soufiane Bendebka.

    Team captain Riyad Mahrez had earlier seen his penalty kick came off Badra Ali Sangare’s post.

    Cote d’Ivoire dominated possession with AC Milan midfielder Kessi, Jean Micheal Seri and young Ibrahima Sangare pulling the strings for Patrice Beaumelle’s side.

    Left-back Chislain Konan twice found space inside the Algerian team’s penalty box, beating Atal on the right to play in Pepe whose first time effort missed the target after seven minutes.

    Algeria also saw Aissa Mandi latching on to a quickly-taken Ismael Bennacer free-kick, only for Simon Desire to clear for a corner-kick.

    The Elephants continued to counter the Desert Foxes with their wide players giving them width as they pushed for the breakthrough.

    Kessie broke the deadlock with a clinical strike after an exchange of passes with Pepe to beat Rais Mbolhi and give Cote d’Ivoire the lead in the 22nd minute.

    Djamel Belmadi’s side responded with chances of their own as they pushed for the equaliser.

    Bennacer had a shot flashed the Elephants goal while Belaili failed to connect to Atal’s inviting diagonal pass into the area.

    Ibrahim Sangare doubled the lead for the Elephants with a thumping header past Mbolhi five minutes before the break.

    Cote d’Ivoire continued to dominate the second half and they found the third goal in the 53rd minute through Pepe.

    The winger drifted inside from the right to curl his left-footed strike past Mbolhi to make it 3-0.

    Algeria were awarded a penalty kick following a foul on Belaili in the 57th minute, but Mahrez struck the post for Cote d’Ivoire to hang on to their three-goal advantage.

    Substitute Soufiane Bendebka later pulled a goal back for the Desert Foxes but it was too late for the 2019 African champions.

    The victory confirmed top spot for Cote d’Ivoire ahead of Equatorial Guinea who beat Sierra Leone 1-0 in Limbé to finish second.

    The Leone Stars finished third with two points and Algeria were bottom with a point.