Algeria on the Brink of Qualification as Gourcuff Eyes Fourth Straight Win
Christian Gourcuff‘s tenure as head coach of the Algerian national team continues to shine, with the Fennecs maintaining a perfect record after three rounds of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) qualifiers. Following a solid 2-0 win over Malawi last Saturday, Algeria sits atop their group and is just one win away from securing a ticket to Morocco.
With another clash against Malawi scheduled for Wednesday, Gourcuff is determined to seal qualification early.
“We will obviously try to win it to definitively secure our qualification,” said the French coach. “But first, we have to think about recovery. We’ll assess the players’ condition on Tuesday.”
Gourcuff also reflected on his start with Algeria:
“I’m fully satisfied with our three victories so far. When I arrived, there was immediate pressure to produce results.”
Injury Updates:
Islam Slimani, recently returned from injury, made a strong impact in the final 20 minutes against Malawi. “We managed his injury well. He’ll be even more effective on Wednesday,” Gourcuff noted.
Nabil Bentaleb sustained a minor ankle twist but is expected to be fit for Wednesday’s match.
Essaïd Belkalem was a last-minute withdrawal due to fatigue. “He’s had a string of matches with his club. I opted for Halliche, who’s been in great form,” said the coach.
With momentum on their side and home qualification within reach, Algeria under Gourcuff is positioning itself as a formidable force heading toward CAN 2015.
