The Algerian media has become a platform for scathing criticism directed at the national team and its coach, Djamel Belmadi. The disappointment following their defeat against Mauritania has prompted intense scrutiny, with media outlets expressing disillusionment and frustration.
In an interview after the match, a disheartened Djamel Belmadi admitted, “No, I didn’t expect this AFCON to be like the last one. Difficult, yes, but not with this sad ending.
We didn’t expect that.” The national coach, already under criticism before the crucial match, now faces heightened scrutiny in the press.
La Gazzette du Fennec, known for its coverage of Algerian football, characterized the team’s performance as a “total fiasco,” drawing parallels to the disappointment in the previous edition in Cameroon.
The media outlet lamented Algeria’s elimination from the 2023 African Cup, finishing last in the group after Mauritania secured a historic 1-0 victory.
DZ Foot, another prominent Algerian media source, adopted an even sharper tone in its post-elimination articles.
Describing Algeria’s performance as “pathetic,” the outlet gave each player a rating of zero in its match notes and called for a collective departure, stating, “Let them ALL get out.”
The prevailing sentiment in their articles is one of profound disappointment, encapsulated by the declaration, “Algeria, miserable through and through, is eliminated from the African Cup of Nations.”
The newspaper Compétition echoed the harsh sentiments, describing the elimination as a “real nightmare” that Algerians find themselves living.
The outlet emphasized the contrast between the coach’s expressed confidence and the team’s inability to score a goal against Mauritania.
The disappointment is palpable, with the article stating, “What a terrible contrast with the wish again renewed the day before by the national coach who said he was ‘confident even to take 1st place’ from the group.”
As Algeria grapples with the aftermath of its premature exit, the media’s critical analysis reflects the collective frustration and disbelief among Algerian football enthusiasts.