AFCON 2021: Algeria’s unexpected exit is “total failure”- Belmadi
Algeria national team coach, Djamel Belmadi says the defending champion early exit from the 2021 biennial Africa showpiece is total failure after getting just a single point, and score just a goal in three games.
The Desert Foxes exit from the 2021 CAF Africa Cup of Nations is unexpected, disappointing, and disastrous. No one saw this coming especially after a successful outing at the 2021 FIFA Arab world cup, as well as the 3-0 thrashing of Ghana in a build-up match to AFCON.
Coming to this tournament, the 2019 AFCON winner were favorites to win the championship. However, unexpectedly, they crashed out after the group stage without winning a single game, and not scoring more than a goal- a performance typical of a failure.
Algeria Coach Djamel Belmadi could not agree less in a post-match interview when they lost 1-3 to Ivory Coast. He defined their performance as a “total failure”.
“We prepared hundred percent for this competition. We wanted to win this title. We did not get what we were looking for. It’s a total failure,”
“Talking about a crisis may not be appropriate. We failed, yes. We did in three games what we haven’t had in three years. This feeling of defeat is bitter, even detestable.
The coach is putting this massive failure behind him quickly, to focus on the world cup qualifiers play-offs, and qualify for the Qatar 2022 FIFA world cup later this year.
“We are in doubt. We will have to analyze this and get back for the March break. A World Cup is not anything. We will have to work now.”
The draw for the world cup qualifiers play-offs is scheduled for tomorrow, January 22 in Douala, Cameroon.
