Algeria Coach Belmadi Praises Moroccan Counterpart Regragui’s World Cup Success

In Djamel Belmadi’s eyes, former international players who coach African teams have potential, an advantage over other coaches. As an illustration, he cites the example of Moroccan and Senegalese coaches Walid Regragui and Aliou Cissé, who have both set an example. "If you are a former player and you have experience on the continent, the link you have with your country gives you an advantage over other coaches," explained the coach of the Fennecs during a meeting with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

And to add: "We are talking here about Aliou Cissé, Walid Regragui and others. I therefore hope that there will be more coaches like them and that they will obtain the best results, like Walid Regragui’s qualification for the World Cup semi-finals with the Moroccan team, the first African team to reach this stage, and Aliou Cissé who led his national team to victory in the Africa Cup of Nations."

Algeria will cross crampons with Angola this Monday, January 15, for their debut in the 2024 CAN. Like the Fennecs, the defending champions Senegal will also play their first match this Monday against Gambia. Ranked in Group F, the Atlas Lions will take the field on Wednesday, January 17. They will challenge Tanzania at the Laurent Pokou stadium in San Pedro, before playing a new match against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, January 21, always at the same stadium and finally Zambia, winner in 2012, on Wednesday, January 24.