A player from the Algerian national team revealed what was said with Abdelmadjid Tebboune on the sidelines of the Algerian Cup final won by CRB.
“He asked me why I was down, I told him I had lost two finals in the past, and now I’ve won. He then said congratulations to me,” Chouaib Keddad, a new player on the Algerian team, confided on El Heddaf TV.
The final between MCA and CRB on Friday at the 5-Juillet-1962 stadium proved disappointing. The performances of both teams fell well below expectations. It’s unclear whether the stakes of the match or the controversial scheduling of the final, three weeks after the competition stopped, affected the players and their ability to produce good play.
Among the spectators was a notable guest: Vladimir Petkovic, the Bosnian coach of the Algerian national team. During his vacation, he traveled to Algiers with his assistant Nabil Neghiz to closely observe the technical level and physical condition of potential players in this important match. After 90 minutes of a dull game, Petkovic’s presence at the stadium did not have the desired effect. Forced to take a seat in the VIP stands two hours before kickoff, he left the stadium tired and disappointed after four hours of observation, including two hours of mediocre play that saw CRB win thanks to their efficiency.
MCA fans were particularly disappointed by the painful defeat. In contrast, CRB fans celebrated the victory, marked by Chouaib Keddad’s decisive goal, establishing himself as the match-winning player. However, neither MCA nor CRB were able to provide the moments of brilliance expected by Petkovic, despite the presence of promising players.
Among the losers was Youcef Belaïli, who had the opportunity to redeem himself after being excluded from the last June training camp but failed to impress. He lost valuable points ahead of the September camp. One of the few to shine was left-back Naoufel Khacef, omnipresent on his flank and creating several dangerous chances in an otherwise offensively poor match.
Petkovic, who had already noted physical deficiencies in his players, could confirm his concerns. The players showed physical fatigue that could further distance them from national team plans. While waiting to discover new talents in Europe to strengthen the team, especially in defense and midfield, Petkovic could continue with the Madani-Keddad duo. The anticipated return of Ramy Bensebaïni should also bolster the defense before the Moroccan AFCON qualifiers.
The left-back position remains in question, with Hadjam failing to convince and Aït-Nouri inconsistent in his performances. This could offer Khacef an opportunity to return to the national team. Additionally, Guendouz’s performance against MCA could also earn him a chance, given that current goalkeepers are struggling to meet expectations.
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