Algeria Look to Goalkeeper Rais M’Bolhi to Anchor Defense Against Ghana
As Algeria prepare to face Ghana in their second Group C fixture at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, much of the spotlight falls on goalkeeper Rais M’Bolhi. The Philadelphia Union shot-stopper was instrumental in Algeria’s opening 3-1 victory over South Africa, delivering a series of outstanding saves that kept the Fennecs in control.
“M’Bolhi pulled out all the stops,” praised playmaker Sofiane Feghouli in an interview with Le Buteur. “He stayed focused and applied himself throughout the match.”
Defender Djamel Mesbah, who remained on the bench during the opener, added, “M’Bolhi made some superb saves that allowed us to stay in the game. He’s a very important element for us.”
Midfielder Nabil Bentaleb, a key figure in Algeria’s engine room, also highlighted M’Bolhi’s impact: “He confirmed his excellent form that we saw at the World Cup this summer.”
The team’s resolve runs deep, with M’Bolhi himself expressing a warrior-like mentality ahead of the tough encounter with Ghana. Speaking to Canal+ presenter Mouloud Achour, the goalkeeper declared, “We are ready to die on the pitch for Algeria. We will do everything to win the CAN and our motto will be ‘We go to war for the country,’ always at war.”
With such determination and defensive resilience, Algeria will look to build on their strong start and secure a crucial win to take another step closer to the knockout stages.
