Legendary Algerian coach Rabah Saadane, who participated in three World Cup finals (1982, 1986, and 2010), shares his insights and thoughts ahead of the decisive double confrontation between Algeria and Burkina Faso in the qualifying play-off for the 2014 World Cup. Here are some excerpts from his interview with France Football:
- Balanced Confrontation: Saadane envisions a highly balanced confrontation between Burkina Faso and Algeria, emphasizing the difficulty of facing a team like Burkina Faso, which reached the final of the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and possesses athleticism and physical strength.
- Algeria’s Potential: Saadane acknowledges Algeria’s rich individual potential and growing confidence. He sees the team as cohesive, with the ability to make a difference both collectively and through individual performances, potentially securing qualification for a second consecutive World Cup.
- Understanding the Stress: Having been in Vahid Halilhodzic’s position as the coach of the Algerian national team, Saadane empathizes with the stress that comes with such critical moments, describing it as a challenging situation.
- Elimination Would Be a Disaster: Saadane expresses the sentiment that elimination for Algeria would be a disaster, drawing from his own experiences participating in three World Cup qualifiers for Algeria.
Saadane’s pragmatic perspective and wealth of experience make his insights valuable as Algeria and Burkina Faso prepare for the crucial play-off matches. Africa Top Sports conducted a survey to gather opinions on the likely outcomes of these matches.
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