Djamel Belmadi has been playing it diplomatically correct for several days. The coach of Algeria is keeping things ambiguous, even in the face of a masterclass performance by his team, as they prepare for CAN 2023.
Four days after their success against Togo’s A’ team (3-0), the Fennecs secured a crushing 4-0 victory on Tuesday in Lomé (Togo) against Burundi, marking their final preparation match before AFCON 2023.
Although this clear victory convinced many observers, Djamel Belmadi, the coach of the Greens, remains somewhat dissatisfied and calls for vigilance. He analyzes first: “It was a good challenge against a solid Burundi team. They caused us many problems, especially with their five-man defense, which complicates the lives of all teams.”
Djamel Belmadi, heightened demands
“Anyway, finding spaces is always difficult. We created many opportunities and should have had a much higher score. They also had one or two chances, especially from set pieces. It’s something we really need to be attentive to. In any case, adjustments are necessary,” the technician confides in a video released by the Algerian Football Federation (FAF).
This statement may seem surprising, but it aligns with what Djamel Belmadi has been trying to convey for several weeks now. While the defensive strength of the Fennecs is undeniable, the Algerian coach believes that offensive efficiency could be multiplied.
“In general, we mastered our subject. Most of the time, this is not a problem. Overall, we always control the matches with a fairly high possession rate each time. The most important thing is to know what to do with the ball when we have it. Today, what I liked was the creativity, the situations. However, we need to be very attentive to the final touches. We could have scored at least three or four more goals,” analyzes the native of Champigny-sur-Marne.
Djamel Belmadi remains cautious
The Algerian coach does not want to get carried away despite his team’s good results. Many big names consider his selection among the favorites for AFCON 2023. For Emmanuel Adebayor, for example, the Fennecs can be a threat. The former captain of the Togo Sparrows is convinced that Algeria has all the necessary elements to aim for the final victory.
“Algeria has a very strong team, as we saw against Togo. I wish the team good luck for AFCON and why not win the title. Algeria plays with great ball control, Bentaleb was very impressive, playing in a simple way and often making the right decisions. With Mahrez and Slimani, I think they have every chance of winning CAN, but you have to stay vigilant in this competition. I always have good memories with Algeria, having played several matches there, and it was always pleasant on and off the field. I wish you a lot of success for CAN,” shared Emmanuel Adebayor in an interview with Anis Meziane (ENTV).
However, despite Emmanuel Adebayor‘s bet on Algeria, the Fennecs’ coach takes a more reserved stance. Djamel Belmadi emphasized that his team’s recent performances do not place them among the favorites for the title.
“The favorites for the AFCON are often the same, we know them: Egypt, Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria, Ivory Coast – for me, a big big favorite playing at home,” said Djamel Belmadi. “No one can be certain about the future winner. We didn’t qualify for the World Cup, we were eliminated in the first round of the last CAN, and you’ve told me enough about it, so, de facto, we are not favorites.”
Despite acknowledging Algeria’s past successes, including the victory in AFCON 2019, Belmadi remains cautious about expectations. The Fennecs will begin their AFCON campaign on January 15th against Angola.
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