The CAN of the century, the CAN of the century, it depends for what, eh! If it is true that this African Cup of Nations offers us completely crazy matches every day and goals by the shovel, like this Gambia – Cameroon won on the wire by the Indomitable Lions (3-2), for some, like for Algerians, it is above all synonymous with fiasco. A look back at another day of madness in Ivory Coast.
Match of the day: Mauritania – Algeria (1-0)
It’s a fiasco, one more, from which Djamel Belmadi should not recover. Yet having fallen into a group seemingly within its reach, with Angola, Burkina Faso and Mauritania, Algeria achieved the feat of being eliminated from the group stage after a defeat in the form of clash against the “Mourabitounes” (1-0). One goal was enough (Yaly Dellahi, 37th) for the men of Amir Abdou, the Franco-Comorian coach, to shake the Fennecs. The Greens were unable to convert their opportunities, despite the entries during the match of Mahrez – whom Belmadi had chosen not to start on Tuesday evening, in a match where a draw would have been enough to qualify – Belaïli and Slimani. On arrival, as in 2022, where Algeria finished last in its group, this team was kicked out of the competition at a stage unworthy of its (alleged) rank.
Player of the day: Christopher Wooh
Let us cover it with gold! “Yes, that’s it, shower me with gold. » Rennais Christopher Wooh became a man who counts in Cameroon on Tuesday. Indeed, while the affair seemed to be going terribly poorly and they were trailing 2-1 against Gambia, Rigobert Song’s men threw a curveball at destiny by scoring two goals in quick succession: the first on csc after a cross from Enzo Tchato (2-2, 87th), the second on a header from Christopher Wooh (3-2, 91st). At the final whistle, the joy of the Indomitable Lions, the staff and the supporters had the air of a World Cup final, which made George-Kévin Nkoudou say, in the columns of The Team : “I have never experienced this emotion in my entire career, I no longer have a voice! »
Fact of the day: Belmadi, is it (soon) over?
As we said in the preamble after Algeria’s new failure in the group stage of a CAN, there is little chance of seeing Djamel Belmadi rest his butt on the Fennecs bench any time soon. The main person concerned did not wish to say more during a post-match press conference which was tense to say the least, simply explaining that “when we return to the country, we will see”, or at the microphone of Canal + ( “I’m not going to say that to you. […] I have people to turn to first.” However, it would seem that the die has already been cast and that the decision has been made.
According to Walid Acherchour, columnist in After Foot on RMC, Belmadi would have announced his future resignation to his players shortly after the final whistle. After five years of an adventure punctuated by victory during CAN 2019, the methods and message of the former OM midfielder could have tired some of the players. Algeria will enter a new cycle and the work for the (possible) next coach promises to be immense.