World Dams 2022: will Algeria redeem itself?
Riyad Mahrez during the match against Sierra Leone at CAN 2022. AP - Sunday Alamba
Text by: Tancrede Chambraud Follow
5 mins
Eliminated in the first round of CAN 2022, the Algerians will have to redeem themselves for their disappointing Cameroonian adventure this Friday March 25 at 5 p.m. UT in Douala.
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Algeria's express exit from CAN 2022 was a surprise.
Unable to open the scoring against
Sierra Leone (0-0)
, beaten by
Equatorial Guinea (0-1)
before suffering the
Ivorian steamroller (3-1)
, the 2019 African champions left the competition mainland through the small door with a single point on the counter.
Enough to make us forget their series of invincibility of thirty-five matches over the last three years.
The trip to the Japoma Stadium in the Cameroonian economic capital, risks reviving bad memories.
It is on this lawn that Franck Kessié, Ibrahim Sangaré and Nicolas Pépé had signed the return to the country of the Fennecs.
However, the Algerian players do not intend to let themselves be destabilized, like
Riyad Mahrez
declaring: “
We don't care about Japoma, we want to go to the World Cup!
at the microphone of Ennahar TV.
The Manchester City winger, disappointing captain at CAN 2022, will have to motivate his troops to try to win.
In his race for qualification, Riyad Mahrez will be able to rely on the experience of his teammates.
The list unveiled by Algerian coach Djamel Belmadi has seen the return of more experienced players like Ishak Belfodil, center forward of Herta Berlin, who has not played for the Fennecs since the 0-1 defeat against Benin in 2018, or Adlène Guédioura, Burton Albion midfielder, whose last cap dates back to the
0-2 victory over the Tunisian rival
in June 2021. Returning from a malleolus injury, the 36-year-old veteran had not been caught in the CAN 2022 group.
Djamel Belmadi
also chose not to retain 11 of the 28 selected from the last CAN, including Yacine Brahimi, Saïd Benrahma and Baghdad Bounedjah.
Absences that he justifies by saying that it was not a “
sanction list, but a list to qualify for the World Cup
”.
“
There was an obvious failure, we had to react, not by dismissing players, but by putting together a list to achieve the objective.
The team wants to redeem itself.
This is what drives us.
We want to be at this World Cup, we want that during the 7-8 months, we are in this euphoria, that of preparing for this event
, ”added the technician during a press conference.
Size duel
On the road to qualification, Cameroon, with a mixed record despite a third place at CAN 2022, could be a significant obstacle.
The record holder for World Cup participation on the African continent is aiming for an eighth World Cup.
A goal within reach thanks to the talent of
Vincent Aboubakar
, author of 8 goals in the last edition of the CAN, including three doubled, against Burkina Faso (in chicken and in the third place match) and against Ethiopia .
The captain of the Indomitable Lions had become the second top scorer in the competition, brushing the record of Congolese Ndaye Mulamba and his 9 goals in 1974.
►
To read also: World Cup 2022: Wassou Goué, a Lion cub in the den of Cameroon
But despite the talent, the flaws are there: after the defeat on penalties against Egypt in the semi-finals (0-0, 3 pens to 1), Vincent Aboubakar threw a chill by declaring at the microphone of Canal Plus : “
Everyone thinks of himself and that n**** everything.
»
Rebelote in the third place match against Burkina Faso.
Cameroon, visibly still in shock at its failure against the Pharaohs, is collapsing.
For an hour, the ardor of the Indomitable Lions is nowhere to be found.
The Burkinabè Stallions unroll.
One, two, then three to zero.
Suddenly, the players, booed by their audience, wake up.
Cameroon returned to equality and won the penalty shootout (5 shots on goal to 3).
But nothing to be reassured.
The Choupo-Moting question could also destabilize the group: present in the group retained by
Rigobert Song
, legend of the Indomitable Lions with 137 capes appointed coach on March 1, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting had been left on the bench for the match of the third place by Toni Conceiçao, coach of the group during the CAN.
A decision that had fueled rumors on social networks, some speaking of "
cold
" with the coach.
After the victory against Burkina Faso, Choupo-Moting had confirmed that he had indeed refused to play, citing a problem with Toni Conceiçao: "
I told the coach that I could not play this match because I I didn't feel well psychologically.
I came to help the team win the CAN.
The coach showed me that he does not rely 100
% on me.
We played 120 minutes in the semi-finals and he didn't even let me in.
For me, it's a lack of respect.
I had to tell the truth to the coach.
I am very disappointed and very frustrated
.
»
Rigobert Song, a man who has already enjoyed success on the continent and lifted two African Cups in a row in 2000 and 2002, will have to do without some holders.
Two players of size will be absent from the meeting:
Moumi Ngamaleun
, injured in club with Young Boys of Bern, the winger will be absent from the two meetings.
Ditto for midfielder
André-Frank Zambo Anguissa
, package since his injury with Naples.
On the other hand, André Onana, who had been the victim of a road accident on Tuesday, March 22, while he was traveling towards Douala, luckily emerged unscathed from the incident and will be part of it.
This match will also be a regular World Cup duel in which neither Cameroon nor Algeria wish to lose: the Indomitable Lions, inspired by their coach "Rigo", one of the only three players from Africa to having played four (1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010), intend to offer an eighth World Cup in Cameroon.
The Fennecs, nostalgic for reaching 8th place in Brazil in 2014, will try to obtain their fifth qualification.
►To listen: World Cup play-offs: the moment of truth
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