This Monday, Algeria makes its debut in the Africa Cup of Nations. The Fennecs, who experienced a major disappointment in the previous edition, are cautious about Angola in their first match.In 2021, Algeria came back down to earth. After an impressive unbeaten streak, Djamel Belmadi’s team arrived in Cameroon as the defending champions. However, in their first match against Sierra Leone, Algeria could only manage a draw (0-0), contributing to their early elimination in the group stage.This year, Riyad Mahrez and his teammates know that they must approach the first match of AFCON 2023 much better. On Monday at 23.00 EAT, the Fennecs will face Angola to try to secure three valuable points in the round of 16 qualifications, especially since the best third-placed teams qualify in this 24-team format.##NAJAVA_MECA_7796150##On Sunday, Belmadi and team captain Riyad Mahrez held a pre-match press conference. The message of the press conference is clear: the Algerian coach is wary of Angola and will not take this match lightly.”I usually say that for a competitor, having maximum ambition in a tournament is essential. Pressure is something we live with, especially at home. If we are not prepared for that, we don’t have much to do in this field. The first match influences the entire competition, and we have two examples since I took over this team. I don’t know if having 12 players who participated in 2019 will play a big role, but yes, experience will help us.”It’s worth little that the Fennecs are yet to win in sub-Saharan Africa. For Belmadi, this is a chance to break the tradition.”Yes, it’s a fact, but things are meant to change, why not do it this year? For the first match, it’s easy to want to score quickly and a lot, but there is an opponent like Angola who doesn’t concede many goals. And then, there is a 90-minute game management. We know this Angolan team, especially their defensive compartment; they don’t concede many goals. Not just the defense, even the midfield with Fredy, Show, Kaliano, who work a lot but also have offensive assets.” The charismatic coach was also asked about his large squad in this AFCON.”From one AFCON to another, we don’t completely change the squad. Seeing players again is normal; they have a career, they have participated in four or five AFCONs. We all want to show that 2021 was a mistake. Questions are part of the coaches’ job. Problems of the rich in certain compartments complicate the thinking process. It’s difficult to be 100% sure even a few hours before the match when you have so many good players to choose from.”🟢Programme du jour : 🔘12h : Conférence de presse (Belmadi / Mahrez). 🎙️🔘17h30 : Entraînement sur le terrain de Bouaké. ⚽️🔘20h-22h : Soins 🏥 pic.twitter.com/prAbodqfZT— Algérie Football Média 🇩🇿 (@DZFOOTBALLDZ) January 14, 2024 Riyad Mahrez, who first discussed his personal situation in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli, also warned his team: no room for error in this first match, which must be approached very seriously.”The most important thing is to start the competition well and take it match by match. But like everyone else, we have ambitions. In our group, there are players for whom this is the first AFCON. Others have more experience. But we insist on starting well. I don’t know if I will end my international career in this competition. The group is doing well, but let’s not fool ourselves; we have to win. In 2021, there were many circumstances; there was COVID, we had little preparation time. Naturally, it was a bit difficult to work. Now, everyone arrived at the same time; we found ourselves together in another country. Serenity is there, but again, serenity doesn’t win matches. I am convinced that we are ready. The conditions? Yes, playing in Saudi Arabia will make things easier for me, except maybe for the early match. But for this AFCON, we really need our supporters; we know their importance when they are there. We have seen videos of them on planes.” Algeria seems to have learned the lesson from the last AFCON and wants to make a strong start. They will need to be serious to overcome an Angolan team that will try to cause problems for one of the teams vying for the final victory. The Fennecs have the weapons… The answer will come this Monday night!
