In Morocco, the Fennecs harassed by the Algerian press

The day of relaxation turned into a settling of scores. On Thursday, January 1st, coach Vladimir Petkovic had given his squad a day off to decompress after the start of the CAN. The players hoped to enjoy the shopping malls and streets of Rabat in peace with their loved ones. But they reckoned without the close marking of certain correspondents from Algerian channels and websites, who tracked them down all day long through the Moroccan capital, cameras in hand.

The situation escalated when Ismaël Bennacer was filmed without his knowledge in the company of his wife. This blatant intrusion into private life provoked strong indignation in the locker room. The midfielder, particularly upset, became the spokesman for a group that can no longer stand this intrusive media pressure. The players, who had already categorically denied access to their hotel of residence to the Algerian media, now say they are "deeply irritated" by these methods.