After 24 years in wilderness, Algeria back to make a mark
After 24 long years, Algeria are back in football’s top table at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Les Fennecs (the Desert Foxes) may have won the CAF African Cup of Nations since appearing at Mexico 1986, but they spent a long time in the wilderness before slowly working their way back as a competitive force at the start of the century.
The current crop of players feel stronger than ever, with enough belief to put in a historic performance in South Africa against formidable teams like England, the United States and Slovenia in Group C.
It was tough for Algeria to reach the first African finals and they completed perhaps the most dramatic path to football's showpiece event. Losses in two of their first three qualifying matches left them neck deep in the second African group stage, and only an 87th-minute equaliser by Gambia against Senegal on the final match day saw Algeria top the table by a single point.
In the final round of qualifying, they landed in a group with more heralded North African rivals Egypt. An early 3-1 win over the Pharaohs gave them poll position of the group, but a 2-0 defeat in Cairo in the final round of matches left the two sides in a literal dead heat.
Against the odds, the Foxes held their nerve and resisted the Egyptians 1-0 in an intense qualifying play-off held in Sudan with defender Antar Yahia the goal-scoring hero.
Riots followed in both countries, but the Algerians had proved to the continent they were worthy representatives.
Yahia is one of the pillars at the back for his team, a status he shares with Madjid Bougherra, Nadir Belhadj and goalkeeper Lounes Gaouaoui, although back-up custodian Fawzi Chaouchi is now making serious claims on the gloves.
Midfield is Algeria’s strength, meanwhile, with captain Yazid Mansouri spreading the ball around and forward-thinkers Karim Ziani and Mourad Meghni the most likely players to spark danger. Lastly, striker Karim Matmour has steadily been proving himself more than useful on the right wing.
Experienced coach Rabah Saadane, who has led Algeria on five separate occasions including a stint during their peak years in the mid-1980s, knows that such losses of composure will be fatal to their chances at the World Cup.
Following a modest playing career in his homeland and briefly in France, ‘Cheik’ (the Elder, the Wise or the Master) Saadane quickly tried his hand at coaching. He soon found employment with the national association, first taking charge of various youth teams.
In 1982, he was part of the coaching staff as Algeria disputed the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. Four years later, he took over the reins of the national side but paid the price for poor results at the global showcase. He took up the post again for a short while in 1999, then from 2003 to 2004 and began his current stint in 2007. In the club game, the veteran trainer notably lifted the CAF Champions League with Raja Casablanca in 1989 and the Arab Champions League title with ES Setif in 2007.
South Africa will mark Algeria’s third appearance at a FIFA World Cup finals, and they will be looking to graduate from the group stage for the first time in their history. In 1982, they made history by defeating West Germany 2-1 and Chile 3-2, only to lose 2-0 to Austria.
Four years on from their debut, with a certain Saadane in the dugout, they shared a 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland before losing 1-0 to Brazil and 3-0 to Spain.
"Our qualification has made it possible for the country to put itself back on the map. It’s a joy and even an honour to be at the origin of that. I’m touched to the see the happiness we have given our people. It’s a splendid example to have set the young,” says Saadane.
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Lounes Gaouaoui, Faouzi Chaouchi, Raid Ouheb M'bolhi
Defenders: Abdelakder Laifaoui, Madjid Bougherra, Carl Medjani Ajaccio, Rafik Halliche, Antar Yahia, Habib Belaid, Nadir Belhadj, Djamel Mesbah
Midfielders: Hassan Yebda, Medhi Lacen, Yazid Mansouri Lorient, Adlene Guidoura, Riad Boudebouz, Djamel Abdoun, Foued Kadir, Karim Ziani, Karim Matmour,
Forwards: Abdelkader Ghezzal, Rafik Djebbour, Rafik Saifi
After 24 long years, Algeria are back in football’s top table at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Les Fennecs (the Desert Foxes) may have won the CAF African Cup of Nations since appearing at Mexico 1986, but they spent a long time in the wilderness before slowly working their way back as...
After 24 long years, Algeria are back in football’s top table at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Les Fennecs (the Desert Foxes) may have won the CAF African Cup of Nations since appearing at Mexico 1986, but they spent a long time in the wilderness before slowly working their way back as a competitive force at the start of the century.
The current crop of players feel stronger than ever, with enough belief to put in a historic performance in South Africa against formidable teams like England, the United States and Slovenia in Group C.
It was tough for Algeria to reach the first African finals and they completed perhaps the most dramatic path to football's showpiece event. Losses in two of their first three qualifying matches left them neck deep in the second African group stage, and only an 87th-minute equaliser by Gambia against Senegal on the final match day saw Algeria top the table by a single point.
In the final round of qualifying, they landed in a group with more heralded North African rivals Egypt. An early 3-1 win over the Pharaohs gave them poll position of the group, but a 2-0 defeat in Cairo in the final round of matches left the two sides in a literal dead heat.
Against the odds, the Foxes held their nerve and resisted the Egyptians 1-0 in an intense qualifying play-off held in Sudan with defender Antar Yahia the goal-scoring hero.
Riots followed in both countries, but the Algerians had proved to the continent they were worthy representatives.
Yahia is one of the pillars at the back for his team, a status he shares with Madjid Bougherra, Nadir Belhadj and goalkeeper Lounes Gaouaoui, although back-up custodian Fawzi Chaouchi is now making serious claims on the gloves.
Midfield is Algeria’s strength, meanwhile, with captain Yazid Mansouri spreading the ball around and forward-thinkers Karim Ziani and Mourad Meghni the most likely players to spark danger. Lastly, striker Karim Matmour has steadily been proving himself more than useful on the right wing.
Experienced coach Rabah Saadane, who has led Algeria on five separate occasions including a stint during their peak years in the mid-1980s, knows that such losses of composure will be fatal to their chances at the World Cup.
Following a modest playing career in his homeland and briefly in France, ‘Cheik’ (the Elder, the Wise or the Master) Saadane quickly tried his hand at coaching. He soon found employment with the national association, first taking charge of various youth teams.
In 1982, he was part of the coaching staff as Algeria disputed the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. Four years later, he took over the reins of the national side but paid the price for poor results at the global showcase. He took up the post again for a short while in 1999, then from 2003 to 2004 and began his current stint in 2007. In the club game, the veteran trainer notably lifted the CAF Champions League with Raja Casablanca in 1989 and the Arab Champions League title with ES Setif in 2007.
South Africa will mark Algeria’s third appearance at a FIFA World Cup finals, and they will be looking to graduate from the group stage for the first time in their history. In 1982, they made history by defeating West Germany 2-1 and Chile 3-2, only to lose 2-0 to Austria.
Four years on from their debut, with a certain Saadane in the dugout, they shared a 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland before losing 1-0 to Brazil and 3-0 to Spain.
"Our qualification has made it possible for the country to put itself back on the map. It’s a joy and even an honour to be at the origin of that. I’m touched to the see the happiness we have given our people. It’s a splendid example to have set the young,” says Saadane.
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Lounes Gaouaoui, Faouzi Chaouchi, Raid Ouheb M'bolhi
Defenders: Abdelakder Laifaoui, Madjid Bougherra, Carl Medjani Ajaccio, Rafik Halliche, Antar Yahia, Habib Belaid, Nadir Belhadj, Djamel Mesbah
Midfielders: Hassan Yebda, Medhi Lacen, Yazid Mansouri Lorient, Adlene Guidoura, Riad Boudebouz, Djamel Abdoun, Foued Kadir, Karim Ziani, Karim Matmour,
Forwards: Abdelkader Ghezzal, Rafik Djebbour, Rafik Saifi
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