Boastful Algeria team arrives, vows to cage Nigeria
Members of the Algerian delegation for Saturday’s Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier against the Super Eagles are expected in Lagos today en route Uyo, venue of the encounter.
The Algerians converged on the National Technical Centre Sidi Moussa on Sunday to start preparation for the encounter under the supervision of their new coach, George Leekens.
The Algerians, who have been training twice daily, are expected to have their morning session today before boarding a chartered flight to Nigeria.
Reports by the Algerian press say Coach Leekens has been hit by a rash of withdrawals by some of the invited players suffering different shades of injury.
The already withdrawn players are Tahart, Ghezzal and Hilal Soudani, who suffered an ankle injury while playing for Dinamo Zagreb against NK Split and had to be substituted.
Ghezzal and Boudebouz were examined by Algeria team doctors before they were excused from the training camp, while Dynamo Zagreb striker Soudani did not even fly down to Algiers, but his medical record was checked by the national team medical staff.
According to a statement by the Algeria football federation (FAF), three players have been drafted to the squad as a result.
They are Baghdad Bounedjah, Yassine Benzia and Ismael Bennacer.
But the withdrawals have not dampened the Algerians’ belief that they would get victory in Nigeria.
On Monday, Algerian Football Federation (AFF) President, Mohamed Raouraoua, urged the team to show that they are superior to Nigeria by getting a win in Uyo.
Following a draw at home to Cameroun in their opener, Algeria need a good result in West Africa to keep in touch with leaders Nigeria.
“You have a duty to come back with a positive result from the match against Nigeria. It is mandatory. We must win there,” Raouraoua told the players.
“All the Algerian people are behind you. They support you and hope for a good result in Nigeria. We must not disappoint, it’s all I can say,” added the Algerian FF president.
“The World Cup is an important event that should not be missed. You should know that everyone is behind you.”
Related
Sport
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
5 Comments
I don’t know if the Super Eagles handlers are readers of this column. They should know that the Algerians will employ all antics to weigh down the Super Eagles. Part of this is the psychological means they had embarked upon by boasting that they will cage Nigeria come Saturday. Its like they are building on the fact that they are the best team in Africa and as such, they may enjoy Nigeria showing some level of respect by first feeling inferior and that will give them an edge. This is where our psychotherapist will do a lot of work by telling the boys that Nigeria was once at that level before now. They should be made to understand that they are to play to take over the position that is rightly theirs. If Cameroon display such complex, they will not get a draw as they did during their game with them. After all, our boys are top class professionals. Nothing to be afraid of. Up Super Eagles, Up Nigeria.
Antics look who’s look talking pal! Antics in your trait, thinking that you’re going to win before your game started, your own football federation, who’s supposed to give the example for the respect that a host should have, especially when it’s an African team, we are all Africans after all. Algeria and Nigeria where the only 2 African nations who qualified to the next round against Germany and France. You wanna talking football wise. Fine what did Nigeria do against France besides threating to withdwaw the match because dear all Nigerian players didn’t have the money that your professionnal football federation promised. We Algerians played with heart, compassion for our Country so that make go higher than ever before against the strongest team in the world who eventually won the cup. What did Nigeria do besides being beatten by a fragile France who where not at the top of their game. You say we’re going to play antics, are our players talking smack on the press? I mean it’s easy to talk right when ur at home and have your own supporters chearing you. You don’t know anything about Algerians. Look at the players we have, look at the position we’re in. You think we’re a small team. We play football…FOOTBALL…on the pitch and not outside. If you can you will beat….think again pal! Our players are gonna fight and you don’t know nothing….nothing about the amount of support our team has from the Algerian people. You can anything you want to say, we will respond in our Algerian way on the pitch and you better watch out…we will respond in football and only football.
Up up super eagles….don’t think so man. Don’t get head of yourself. Show some respect and fair play. When your team will come to Algeria, they will be greeted with flowers and respect, go ask the Cameroon delegation or press. On that day, Mahrez, Slimani, Brahimi, Feghouli and all the Algerian brothers, cuz that is what the team is and what it stands for, will show you 😉
One Two Three viva l’Algerie!!
Well Said Brother . we have all the Faith in our Algerian Team. We are gonna Get those 3 Points. I’m sure 😀
Talk is cheap but you see after 90 minutes on Saturday Algeria will realize that you do not win games by talking.
Where is Taufik and Chamilo after the match. I really want to hear your post match views following the rant you posted here.
We will review and take appropriate action.