Algeria U21s Begin Olympic Preparations with Back-to-Back Wins over Qatar
The Algerian U21 national team has kicked off its preparations for the 2016 Olympic Games qualifiers on a strong note, securing two consecutive 1-0 victories over Qatar in friendly matches. Under the guidance of Swiss coach Pierre-André Schurmann, the young Fennecs showed promise, although the performance in the second game left the coach wanting more.
Speaking after the second match, Schurmann expressed mixed feelings:
“We wanted to force the result in the second half because the objective for us was to put in a strong performance,” he told local journalists. “The players were tired on both sides because of the heat. We were fresher than Qatar at the end of the match.”
Despite the results, the coach was clear that the team is still a work in progress.
“Our team is still under construction,” Schurmann admitted. “Qatar’s players have already played 50 matches together, while I’ve only had my squad for a month. We still have a lot of work ahead.”
These matches are part of a broader plan to build a cohesive and competitive squad capable of reaching the Rio 2016 Olympics. Algeria last participated in Olympic football at the 1980 Moscow Games, and the federation is eager to return to the global stage.
