The Algerian national team, the Fennecs, has commenced its preparation for the upcoming CAN 2013. The team is set to travel to South Africa on Thursday, where they will undergo a two-week training camp.
During their stay in South Africa, Algeria is scheduled to play two friendly matches. The first match is against South Africa in Soweto on January 12, and the second is likely against the team of Platinum Stars in Rustenburg.
However, two players, Carl Medjani and Djamel Abdoun, withdrew from the squad due to injuries. Medjani stated, “I’m injured, and I don’t think I’m ready for this meeting. I preferred to leave my place to another player who was in better shape than me.”
Despite the upcoming competition, the president of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), Mr. Raouraoua, affirmed that coach Vahid Halilhodzic would remain in his position even in the event of failure in South Africa. He emphasized that the CAN is not an end in itself, as the team will immediately focus on qualifying for the 2014 World Cup after the tournament.
