Algeria must remain humble to make an impact in AFCON 2023: Coach Belmadi

Algeria's national team coach, Djamel Belmadi, emphasized the importance of humility and giving back in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), aiming to avoid the disappointment experienced in the previous edition.

Mahmoud Elassal , Sunday 14 Jan 2024,
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Belmadi
Algeria s national team coach Djamel Belmadi

 

During an interview with CAF Online on Sunday, Belmadi acknowledged the team's need to satisfy both themselves and the expectations of their fans.

In AFCON 2021, the Desert Warriors failed to progress beyond the group stage, finishing at the bottom of their group with just one point.

"We were disappointed in the last one because there were a lot of expectations and we couldn't satisfy them, we couldn't satisfy ourselves first and we couldn't satisfy them, so we feel we have to give back something in this AFCON," reflecting on the performance, Belmadi expressed his disappointment, stated.

Under the guidance of the 47-year-old coach, Algeria, who triumphed in the AFCON in 1990 and 2019, aspires to achieve the same feat once again.

Belmadi acknowledged the immense responsibility they bear as a football-loving nation with a passionate population.

"It is a huge responsibility because we are a country of football, and we have a population that loves football, especially the national team. We gave our people a lot of joy when we won the AFCON in 2019," he added.

Algeria will kick off their group stage campaign against Angola on Monday, followed by a match against Burkina Faso in Group D four days later.

Their group stage journey will conclude on January 23 with a match against Mauritania.

Belmadi stressed the significance of a strong start in the tournament, emphasizing the need to secure a victory in the opening game.

"It is important in a tournament that the first game you should negotiate it perfectly; you need to take the three points," he stated. Analyzing their opponents, Belmadi acknowledged Angola's defensive strength and resilience.

"So we respect Angola. If we analyze the last three results of Angola, they do not concede many goals; they defend very well. They are a tough team to play," he added.

Belmadi reiterated the importance of humility, highlighting Algeria's recent failures in the World Cup and their early exit in the previous AFCON.

"As I said, in the beginning, because we went out in the first round in Cameroon, we were not in the last World Cup, we cannot say that we are the favorites. We have to be humble," emphasized the Algeria national team coach.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)

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Group A W D L P
Cameroon
2 1 0 7
Burkina Faso
1 1 1 4
Cape Verde
1 1 1 4
Ethiopia
0 1 2 1
Group B W D L P
Senegal
1 2 0 5
Guinea
1 1 1 4
Malawi
1 1 1 4
Zimbabwe
1 0 2 3
Group C W D L P
Morocco
2 1 0 7
Gabon
1 2 0 5
Comoros
1 0 2 3
Ghana
0 1 2 1
Group D W D L P
Nigeria
3 0 0 9
Egypt
2 0 1 6
Sudan
0 1 2 1
Guinea Bissau
0 1 2 1
Group E W D L P
Cote d Ivoire
2 1 0 7
Equatorial Guinea
2 0 1 6
Sierra Leone
0 2 1 2
Algeria
0 1 2 1
Group F W D L P
Mali
2 1 0 7
Gambia
2 1 0 7
Tunisia
1 0 2 3
Mauritania
0 0 3 0