In a press conference held on Sunday, Djamel Belmadi, the seasoned coach of the Algerian national team, provided insights into his selection of 26 players gearing up for the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), set to kick off on January 15 against Angola’s Palancas Negras.
While detailing his choices for the squad, Belmadi delved into the landscape of AFCON favorites, notably omitting Algeria from the list.
The coach, who has steered the Greens since 2018, acknowledged the perennial contenders and explained the absence of his own team from the roster of favorites.
“The AFCON favorites are often the same, we know them: Egypt, Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria, Ivory Coast – for me a big favorite, playing at home.
No one can be certain about the future winner,” Belmadi articulated. However, he notably excluded Algeria from the contenders, citing recent performance metrics.
“We did not qualify for the World Cup, we went out in the first round of the last AFCON , and you have repeated it to me enough, so, de facto, we are not favorites,” emphasized Belmadi.
The strategic move to position Algeria as an outsider rather than a favorite carries its own weight, given the team’s resurgence in recent months.
The omission of Algeria from the favorites’ list adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, as Belmadi adopts a pragmatic perspective, acknowledging the challenges faced by his team in recent competitions.
This outsider status might serve to alleviate some of the pressure typically associated with the favorite label.
As Algeria braces itself for the upcoming AFCON campaign, fans and analysts alike will keenly observe how Belmadi’s approach translates into on-field dynamics.
The coach’s candid assessment of the favorites reflects a nuanced understanding of the competitive landscape, setting the stage for a compelling tournament in which unpredictability may reign supreme.
Belmadi 🎙️ : «Les favoris de la CAN sont souvent les mêmes, on les connaît : Egypte, Sénégal, Maroc, Tunisie, Nigéria, Côte d’Ivoire (pour moi un gros gros favori, qui joue à domicile). Personne ne peut avoir de certitude sur le futur vainqueur» #CAN2023 pic.twitter.com/h0beN7hmUW
— DZfoot (@DZfoot) December 31, 2023
