Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed his optimism about his country's football team's ability to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
Algeria reached the qualifying round for the World Cup, scheduled for the end of next March, after winning the first group of African qualifiers, after drawing with its host and runner-up Burkina Faso 2-2, for the sixth and final round of the group stage.
Tebboune said in an interview with local media on Friday, "I watched with great concern the last match against Burkina Faso. Even with Djibouti, it was the case. It is always like this when it comes to the national team."
He added, "Our team is good, and I hope that it will qualify for the World Cup, and I think it will qualify. This team has all the support, despite the presence of parties inside and outside trying to destroy it, and these parties are trying to influence the morale of coach Jamal Belmadi."
The Confederation of African Football said on Friday that the draw for the play-off round will be held on January 26, stressing that the deciding round will be played in the previously announced format, i.e. the home and away system, with the teams ranked among the top five Africa playing at home in the return match.