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Obsessed with the record
"It seems to me that Algeria got into the wrong fight by pursuing this record of invincibility somewhat obsessively," said Claude Le Roy, 1988 African champion at the head of Cameroon, for AFP.
"They perhaps forgot the African Cup a bit and thought too much about this record, we only heard that in the interviews: what day would they break Italy's record (37 matches without defeat, editor's note)", continues the technician with ten CANs.
Coach Djamel Belmadi had admitted dreaming of "planting the flag of Algeria at the top of world football".
His team was 35 games unbeaten before falling against Equatorial Guinea (1-0).
"Before breaking the record, you had to win matches in the African Cup," insists the "Blond Sorcerer".
"Once they've lost, it's as if the spring had broken. The most important match is always the next one. Football is an eternal school of humility," adds Le Roy.
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More collective spring
The armada of Djamel Belmadi, who had marched on Africa in 2019 until his victory against Senegal in the final (1-0), was unrecognizable in Cameroon.
She showed nothing on the damaged lawn of the Japoma stadium, "which did not prevent Côte d'Ivoire from playing very good football", notes the technician who started coaching in Africa in 1984.
"They were overwhelmed, individually, collectively, tactically. The Ivorians created solutions in the intervals, multiplied the three-man game, Pépé, Gradel like Haller were incredibly concerned with the collective recovery of the ball, ready to make every effort", he adds as if to underline all the shortcomings of Algeria.
Algerian captains Riyad Mahrez and Aïssa Mandi console themselves after their defeat against Côte d'Ivoire in Douala, January 20, 2022 CHARLY TRIBALLEAU AFP
"Djamel has done a remarkable job, but a team quickly escapes its creator," notes Le Roy.
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An extinguished attack
The wealthy offensive compartment of Algeria has evolved very far from its level and its reputation.
His attacking leader and captain, Riyad Mahrez, even shot a penalty on the post (60th), which in any case would have brought his team only 3-1.
Only Sofiane Bendebka scored a goal for the African champions at the CAN, after a beautiful acrobatic action, but far too isolated.
Against Sierra Leone (0-0), Algeria had frankly played badly, and if there was better against Equatorial Guinea, the "Fennecs" "harvested" and were surprised (1-0) .
Algerian coach Djamel Belmadi during the match against Côte d'Ivoire in Douala, January 20, 2022 CHARLY TRIBALLEAU AFP
Against Côte d'Ivoire, their attackers seemed to spend more time feigning fouls, like Mohamed Belaïli, than playing.
Islam Slimani went through the competition like a ghost.
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Bounce back for the World Cup
African champions in 1990, the "Fennecs" had also been eliminated in the first round at the following CAN, in 1992 in Senegal, with already a defeat against Côte d'Ivoire (3-0).
"We did not know how to live up to it", admitted coach Djamel Belmadi at the microphone of Canal Plus Afrique, speaking of "failure, quite simply".
If he remains in place, after such a fiasco, the coach must quickly bounce back to prepare for another huge meeting: the play-offs in March of the World Cup-2022, the draw of which takes place on Sunday in Douala.
"From now on their future opponents for the World Cup qualifiers know that the spring has been broken a little bit, this will increase their capital of confidence", warns Le Roy.
The champion is down.
© 2022 AFP