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Tag: Algeria

  • Friendly: Algeria replace Cote d’Ivoire as Nigeria’s opponents

    Friendly: Algeria replace Cote d’Ivoire as Nigeria’s opponents

    Reigning African champions Algeria have been lined up for an international friendly with three-time continental kings Nigeria.

    Gernot Rohr’s men were billed to take on Cote d’Ivoire on October 9 in Austria before facing Tunisia at the same venue four days later.

    However, that will not happen as the West African country, through the Federation Ivorienne de Football, wrote to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that they would be unable to send a team to the European country for the encounter due to internal problems.

    n a positive twist of fate, Algeria has accepted to try Nigeria for size on the same date at the Jacques Lemans Arena.

    “We have permission from our government to travel from Algeria to Austria and our country has reopened international flights,” wrote Mohamed Saad, general secretary of the Federation Algerienne de Football as per a statement from the NFF.

    “We also would like to confirm that Fifa match agent Me Jairo Pachon is authorised to carry on all the required work and planning in Austria in order to stage this event.”

    That encounter would be the fourth meeting between the Super Eagles and the Desert Foxes in three years.

     

  • Another African country confirms first case of Coronavirus

    Another African country confirms first case of Coronavirus

    Coronavirus (COVID-19) has come to establish presence in Africa as the Algerian authorities on Tuesday announced the country’s first case.

    The patient is identified as an Italian citizen who arrived in the country on February 17.

    “One case was confirmed positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), out of two suspected cases (both) of Italian nationality,” the North African country’s health ministry is quoted by media reports.

    The infected person is said to have been quarantined.

    The health ministry assured that it had reinforced its monitoring and surveillance systems at all points of entry into the country.

    Egypt also, on February 14, announced its first case of the deadly disease which broke out in the Wuhan city of China in December 2019.

  • Abdelmadjid Tebboune wins Algeria’s presidential election

    Abdelmadjid Tebboune has been elected the new president of Algeria, the Head of the National Independent Election Authority, Mohamed Chorfi announced on Friday.

    Chorfi announced this at a news conference in Algiers.

    He said that Tebboune won a majority 58.15 per cent of vote in the presidential election held on Thursday to become the 8th president of the North African nation since gaining independence from France in 1962.

    The figures show that Abdelkader Bengrina came second as he collected 17.38 per cent of votes, followed by Ali Benflis with 10.55 per cent, and Azzeddine Mihoubi with 7.26 per cent.
    And Abdelaziz Belaid came fifth with 6.66 per cent.

    Chorfi added that the turnout of the polls hit 41.13 per cent nationwide, while the overall turnout with voters abroad hit 39.83 per cent.

  • 8 newborns die in fire at Algerian hospital

    8 newborns die in fire at Algerian hospital

    Eight newborns died in a huge fire that broke out at the maternity unit of an Algerian hospital on Tuesday, the civil defence authority said.

    The fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday at the hospital in Oued Souf, an area 700 kilometres south east of the capital Algiers, according to the authority.

    The babies died of burns or smoke inhalation, it said, adding that 11 other infants and 65 people, including 37 women, were rescued.

    In 2018, a huge fire ripped through the same hospital, causing damage to large parts of it.

  • Olympic Qualifier: Falcons beat Algeria 3-0 on aggregate, through to 3rd round

    The Super Falcons moved to the third round of CAF’s 2020 Tokyo Women Football Qualifiers after beating Algeria 1-0 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos on Tuesday to qualify 3-0 aggregate.

    The Falcons had defeated the North Africans 2-0 in the first leg in Algiers, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    The African champions’ foreign-based players, who were absent in the first leg, could not make a statement with their performance in the first half of the match.

    The attack led by FC Barcelona Women forward Asisat Oshoala were however asking all the questions as they piled pressure on the Desert ladies in search of a goal.

    The Algerians, on the other hand, were solid in the defence to keep the Falcons at bay.

    However, luck ran out on the visitors as Oshoala made a brilliant solo run for a perfect finish in the 59th minute.

    The lone goal was enough to send Thomas Dennerby side to the third round against either Mali or Cote d’Ivoire.

  • Match Report: How Algeria sank Senegal for AFCON title

    Baghdad Bounedjah’s early goal propelled Algeria to a first Africa Cup of Nations title in 29 years after a fiery 1-0 victory over Sadio Mane’s Senegal in Friday’s final in Cairo. Here is the full story:
    Bounedjah gave Algeria a dream start in the second minute when his deflected shot looped over Senegal goalkeeper Alfred Gomis, and it proved enough for the 1990 champions to lift the trophy on foreign soil for the first time.

    For Senegal, who lost to Algeria by the same scoreline in the group stage, the long wait for a first continental crown goes on as coach Aliou Cisse, the captain of the 2002 runners-up, again fell short in the final.
    It was the first title-decider to feature two African coaches since 1998, with Algeria boss Djamel Belmadi completing a whirlwind 12 months at the helm after inheriting a side that failed to make it out of the group stage two years ago.
    With defensive rock Kalidou Koulibaly suspended for Senegal, Salif Sane deputised at the back and Ismaila Sarr was recalled in attack, while Belmadi kept faith in the same side that overcame Nigeria with an injury-time free-kick from Riyad Mahrez.
    Senegal had understandably feared the absence of Napoli star Koulibaly, banned after two bookings in the knockout rounds, although the towering Sane was desperately unlucky as Algeria grabbed the lead with scarcely a minute played.
    As Bounedjah took aim from 20 yards his effort smacked off Sane and arced high into the air before dropping underneath the crossbar and beyond a static Gomis, sparking delirious celebrations from both players and fans, some of whom arrived for the final on military planes provided by the Algerian government.
    Henri Saivet, who missed a penalty in the 1-0 victory over Tunisia, tried to catch Rais Mbohli out with a free-kick while Mbaye Niang fizzed a powerful drive just over as Senegal gradually showed signs of life before the half ended with both sets of players embroiled in a scuffle as they headed for the tunnel.
    Senegal thought they had won a penalty on the hour when Cameroonian referee Alioum Alioum pointed to the spot for a suspected handball by Adlene Guedioura, but the official reversed his decision after a VAR review.
    Niang rounded an advancing Mbohli after a searching ball through from Cheikhou Kouyate but the forward sliced wide of the target from a tough angle, with the Algeria ‘keeper then acrobatically tipping over a rasping drive from Youssouf Sabaly.
    The Desert Foxes started to look jaded as Senegal brought on fresh legs in Krepin Diatta and Mbaye Diagne, but Youcef Belaili nearly made it 2-0 when his cross brushed the head of a defender and skimmed the roof of the net.
    Sarr blazed over on the volley as Algeria clung on to their advantage in the closing minutes, the final whistle greeted by an outpouring of raw emotion as the North Africans emerged worthy winners of the expanded 24-team event.

  • BREAKING: Algeria win AFCON 2019

    The Desert Foxes of Algeria have won the 2019 African Cup of Nations, AFCON, tournament in Egypt after beaten Senegal 1-0 on Friday.
    It was Algeria’s second time of winning the AFCON after 29 years.
    Algeria opened scoring through Baghdad Bounedjah on 2nd minute. He tried his luck from the edge of the box and his shot took a deflection and went past the stranded Alfred Gomis.
    On 38 minutes, there was a penalty appeal after M’Baye Niang of Senegal went down under a challenge from the defender. All players chase the referee but he was not interested in the penalty claim.
    Few seconds later, Niang wasted a big chance draw Senegal level. He unleashed a shot from the edge of the box and it went narrowly over the crossbar.
    On 60th minute, Adlene Guedioura of Algeria probably handled the ball and the referee awarded a penalty, but he was called by the Video Assistant Referee, VAR to take a second look.
    Referee Neant Alioum came back after watching a replay and quickly reversed his decision to award a penalty after a VAR review.
    Niang had chance to draw level for Senegal on 66th minute as he picked up an inch-perfect pass inside the box and fired the ball just over the crossbar.
    On 69th minute, a good pass found Youssouf Sabaly on the edge of the box, and he drilled the ball towards the roof of the net. Rais M’Bolhi was almost caught out but pulled off a brilliant save at the last second.
    With 68 percent ball possession, Senegal could not dent the Algeria’s defence. The Senegalese also had 11 goal attempts while Algeria had one. While the Algerian keeper saved three clear goals attempt, the Senegalese keeper had no save.

  • Don’t put Eagles’ loss to Algeria on me, says Akpeyi

    The blame games have not ceased since the Sunday’s defeat to Algeria, and the Super Eagles goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi who is at the centre of it has absolved himself and his teammates of any blame to contrary views.
    The Super Eagles will meet Tunisia on Wednesday for a chance to go home with a consolation prize after the three-time African Champions lost 2-1 to the Dessert of Algeria in the Nations Cup semi-final tie in Cairo on Sunday night.
    The loss left a broken heart on the national team players with some Nigerian fans pointing at the goalkeeper’s ‘poor’ performance and left a few suggesting that a better goaltender would have stopped Mahrez’s free kick.
    Nigeria were dominated by a sleek-passing, sweet-attacking Algerian side and ultimately lost to a stunning Riyadh Mahrez free kick with extra time looming.
    Odion Ighalo had earlier gotten the West Africans on level terms after trailing to a Troost-Ekong own goal since the first half.
    “It’s very tough and very sad that we have to lose in that manner, to have conceded through that kind of free-kick,” said Akpeyi who explained that “hard luck played its part in the Super Eagles Sunday night defeat to Algeria.”
    “I wish there can be a replay, but it’s over now and we have to look up to the third-place game,” the 32-year old goalkeeper said as he would rather focus on the future away from the loss.
    “So far, it doesn’t matter whatever anyone would say about the team. These players have actually tried. A lot of teams have been knocked out of this competition but we are still here.”
    “We have very young talent and I’m very sure if this team can be given a chance, we’ll be able to fix things,” Akpeyi concluded.
    Meanwhile, Williams Troos Ekong has sent out a ‘Thank you’ message to Nigerian for showing support for the national team seine the group stage of this year’s biennial competition which started in June.
    ‘Thank you for all your support,” the Eagles centre back posted online as he called for a continued support till the Eagles last match against Tunisia.
    “Let’s push one more time Wednesday!” he added on his tweeter handle.

    The Super Eagles has won each of their six third-place games in Nations Cup, while keeping a clean sheet in four of these ties.

  • 5 die in Algeria celebrating team’s victory over Nigeria

    At least five persons were killed and 13 others injured in a traffic accident in eastern Algeria during celebrations of the country’s qualification to the final of African Cup of Nations (AFCON) being held in Egypt.
    Algeria beat Nigeria 2-1, getting the winning goal in the last seconds of the game from Riyad Mahrez.
    The national radio channel 1 specified that the accident occurred on Sunday overnight in the eastern province of Jijel when a semi trailer collided with a mini van carrying a group of supporters celebrating Algeria’s victory in the semi-final.
    Two supporters were killed immediately while three others succumbed to injures in hospital.
    The source added that 13 other supporters are in critical condition as they are receiving treatment.
    In France, nearly 300 people were arrested in clashes amid the celebrations by fans of Algeria’s national team.
    Fans crowded in the streets for mass celebrations, throwing firecrackers, including at police, and climbed cars.
    The traffic was paralyzed all the way to the Arc de Triomphe.
    The arrests were made nationwide on Sunday evening, the interior ministry said.
    Paris is home to large minority communities of Algerian origin.

  • 2019 AFCON: What went wrong with Super Eagles against Algeria

    The former Technical Adviser of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Tunde Disu OFR, on Monday attributed the Super Eagles loss to the Les Fennecs of Algeria to many factors such as pressure and lack of tactical discipline.
    Disu gave the reasons in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while commenting on the Eagles Sunday’s loss to the Algerians.
    The former Assistant coach submitted that the Eagles allowed too much pressure unnecessarily and also lacked tactical discipline.
    “The Eagles defence was too open for the Algerians to operate and penetrate and this caused the first goal because they forced us to make errors.
    “The Eagles worked with two central midfielders while one of them, Etebo, is too much conscious of going forward leaving the backline to be porous and the goalkeeper to be panicky.
    “We already have Ahmed Musa, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze who are conscious enough in the attack so the other midfielders joining should be occasional.
    “The Algerians are relatively better coordinated in the middle, likewise the flanks so we need to be tactically alert to curtail the Algerians which the Eagles failed to achieve,” he said.
    Disu said that allowing the Algerians to dictate the pace of the game was an undoing to the team, adding that the Eagles should have attacked their opponents.
    “The Algerians had too much control of the game yesterday because they saw the Eagles too much on the defensive, so they kept on coming to the Eagles.
    “There is something called pressing in coaching, this means you attack your opponents from their own half, but the Eagles were constantly allowing the Algerians to pressurise them.
    “The attack should have been from the defenders, note that we used the same formation 4-3-3 so we should have played them with the same strength moreso, they are not better than the Eagles.
    “Another problem is that the Eagles main striker, Ighalo was isolated throughout the game, the wingers were not playing with him, he needed the ball, but at times he doesn’t get it,” he said.