Algeria prepares for AFCON with third preparatory match as coach Belmadi imposes firm decisions
Jamal Belmadi, the 47-year-old coach of the Algerian national team, is meticulously finalizing preparations for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations scheduled in Ivory Coast from January 13th to February 11th.
The squad, led by captain Riyad Mahrez, is poised for a training camp in Lome, Togo, during the first ten days of the coming month.
In this context, “Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed” received information on Tuesday from its source within the Algerian national team’s technical staff.
It revealed that, before departing for Togo and initiating the closed camp, Jamal Belmadi decided to play a preparatory match against the Algerian under-23 team next Sunday at the Sidi Moussa Center, dedicated to national team preparations, the night before traveling to Lome.
The same information indicates that the Algerian Olympic team, led by coach Yacine Menai, will also enter a two-day camp starting on Friday in preparation for their encounter with the senior national team.
They will rely on the same player roster that faced Palestine last week when the “Fedayeen” organized their camp in Annaba, eastern Algeria, preparing for the upcoming Asian Cup in Qatar in January.
Strict Decisions from Belmadi
The source, who declined to disclose his identity, revealed to “Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed” that coach Jamal Belmadi decided to play the preparatory match against the Olympic team without the presence of an audience, media coverage, or television broadcasting.
The same applies to the friendly matches against Togo and Burundi during the Togo camp.
Belmadi aims to prepare quietly and away from the scrutiny of representatives from other teams before entering the continental event.
The Algerian national team will face Togo on January 5th, with the latter playing with its local players.
As for the second friendly match against Burundi in the Lome camp on January 9th, Burundi has successfully ensured the presence of its professional players in anticipation of this encounter.
The initial camp of the Algerian national team in Sidi Moussa, the capital city of Algiers, witnessed the arrival of additional players, including the duo Rami Bensebaini and Baghdad Bounedjah.
This is in anticipation of coach Jamal Belmadi’s announcement of the final roster for the African competition.
