Binewa Team Profile: Algeria at TotalEnergies AFCON 2023
By Ngome Michael
A household name on the continent, the Fennec Foxes will challenge for another crown in Africa’s most cherished football tournament for a 19th time having made their debut fifty-six years ago.
The North African team has, featured in four FIFA World Cups between 1982 and 2014, two AFCON titles,(1990 and 2019). Regular customers; one time runners-up (1980), twice as bronze medalists(1984,1988), four quarter-final and eight first round finishes.
Current captain, Riyad Mahrez form a string of successful Algerian players amongst which, the lights of Salah Assad with 68 caps, part of 1982 world cup class, Rabah Madjer, active Islam Slimani, Said Berahma and Ismael Bannecer.
Champions in 2019, Djamel Belmadi will be out at the 34th AFCON edition to make amends for a disappointing title defence as well missing out on the world cup in Qatar.
Ranked 4th in Africa, the journey to Côte D’Ivoire provides enough evidence to consider Algeria as favorite.
Road to AFCON
Mozambique 0-2 Algeria
Algeria 3-1 Somalia
Algeria 0-0 Tanzania
Uganda 1-2 Algeria
Niger 0-1 Algeria
Algeria 2-1 Niger
Overall seven wins and three draws in 2023.
Players To Watch
While Riyad Mahrez would quickly be looked at as the foxes main threat, another star is on the rise for Algeria.
23-year-old Mohamed Amin Amoura from Saint Galoise is gifted with goalscoring, lethal with both feet and can eliminate defender during one-on-one situations. Country’s top scorer with 3goals at the qualifiers.
Aissa Mandi, Youcef Belaili, Besbaini, Bounedjah and Mahrez multiply goal sources for Algeria.
Coach: Djamel Belmadi
Djamel Belmadi, will be managing his country’s national team for the third time in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals, as he previously led the nation to their title in 2019 on Egyptian soil.
The 47-year-old has been at the helm for five years and will be looking to use his experience of continental football to the best of his abilities to lead the Algerian side to glory.
AFCON fixtures:
15 January
Algeria – Angola: 20:00 GMT, Bouaké Stadium.
20 January
Algeria – Burkina Faso: 14:00 GMT, Bouaké Stadium.
23 January
Mauritania – Algeria: 20:00 GMT, Bouaké Stadium.
