Former Algeria defender Djamel Benlamri has come to the defense of ex-national coach Djamel Belmadi, who continues to face criticism from certain circles despite stepping away from the position months ago. In a spirited response, Benlamri challenged those attempting to undermine Belmadi’s legacy, which includes leading Algeria to victory in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Recent weeks have seen an intensification of critiques aimed at Belmadi, a situation that surfaced following rumors surrounding the coach’s alleged strained relationship with Amine Gouiri, a prominent player with Stade Rennais.
Reports emerged claiming Gouiri had clashed with Belmadi prior to the team’s training camp in Togo ahead of AFCON 2023.
Allegedly, the tension arose when Gouiri requested a starting role that Belmadi purportedly declined. This account was later dismissed by sources close to the Algerian camp.
More recently, former Algeria national team coach Rabah Madjer fueled the conversation by asserting that his own contributions laid the groundwork for Belmadi’s AFCON 2019 success.
Madjer suggested that his tenure’s efforts provided a foundation on which Belmadi later capitalized, despite his departure.
However, Benlamri’s response to these accusations was prompted by a story broadcast by a YouTube-based TV channel affiliated with figures critical of Belmadi.
The report alleged that before Algeria’s match against Colombia in Lille in 2019, Belmadi told players, “Tonight there is no tactic; we must go on the field, play, and win for the people.”
This statement was presented as a sign of poor leadership, lacking strategy or structure.
Benlamri, an integral member of Algeria’s 2019 AFCON-winning squad, dismissed these allegations in an impassioned post, condemning the ongoing attacks against Belmadi.
“Do not use me to satisfy your masters who do not like Belmadi,” Benlamri wrote. “I can in no way say this kind of thing about a coach who reigned over African football for four years and won the star that your masters did not manage to win for whom you work.
All my affection, all my respect, and all my gratitude to the zaïm Djamel Belmadi,” he concluded, using “zaïm,” or leader, to underscore his respect for the former coach.
The ongoing critiques of Belmadi’s tenure reflect a lingering dissatisfaction from certain factions within Algerian football.
Yet, Belmadi’s defenders highlight his undeniable impact, including a reign that saw Algeria claim its second AFCON title in Egypt in 2019, effectively putting the team back on the map in African football.
Belmadi, whose influence on the national squad left a mark beyond his four-year tenure, remains silent on the recent wave of criticism.
However, the growing support from key former players like Benlamri suggests that his legacy within Algerian football remains strong, despite detractors’ efforts to reshape the narrative.
