AFCON 2015 QUALIFIERS – ALGERIA MAINTAIN PERFECT RECORD, GOURCUFF DEMANDS MORE
Algeria continued their flawless run in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, securing a fifth consecutive victory by beating Ethiopia 3-1 on Saturday in Blida. With 15 points from 5 matches, the Fennecs are already through to the finals in Equatorial Guinea, but head coach Christian Gourcuff remains focused on perfection.
➤ Gourcuff: “We lost our lucidity”
Despite the win, the French tactician was not entirely satisfied with the performance, particularly the dip in collective play late in the match.
“In the last quarter of an hour, we became more individualistic, whereas our strength at the start of the match was our team play and fluidity in passing the ball,” Gourcuff told the CAF website.
“There were changes and fatigue played a big part in those lost duels. We lost our lucidity and it became a bit disjointed.”
➤ Dominant but Demanding
Algeria’s qualification was never in doubt, and their attacking power—combined with a solid backline—has made them one of the tournament favorites. But Gourcuff, known for his emphasis on tactical discipline and technical cohesion, is pushing his players to avoid complacency.
Algeria will aim to finish the group phase with a perfect record when they travel for their final match on Matchday 6.
