Algeria's national football team, led by coach Ibrahim Hamdani, has struggled to find form, with a recent draw against Burundi in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The team's performance has raised concerns, particularly in defense, where they conceded three goals in two matches. Hamdani and his assistant, Antar Yahia, have acknowledged the team's defensive weaknesses. The Greens have a long way to go to build a strong team, especially with a goalkeeper who is not convincing.
The team's performance against Burundi was disappointing, with many fans expecting more from the team. The Greens have not played well in Africa, and their recent performance did not improve. Hamdani has tried different players, including new goalkeeper M'astel, but the results have not been encouraging. The team's defense has been a major concern, with Hamdani and Yahia struggling to find a solution. The coach may consider returning to goalkeepers Alexis Guendouzi and Luca Zidane, who are considered better options.
Former Algeria defender, Jamal Belamri, has criticized the team's defensive performance, describing it as a chronic problem. Belamri expressed surprise at the large spaces left in the backline, saying it was like "open streets" for the opponent. He emphasized that the team's identity and style are missing, and the current generation needs a strong personality and clear philosophy. Belamri also expressed concern about the team's declining competitiveness, saying the group seems shaky.
Belamri also questioned the team's tactical approach, criticizing Hamdani's decision to substitute Adil Boulbina, which he described as a "tactical mistake". He also expressed concern about the utilization of some players, including Ramy Ben Sebaoui, who continues to make the same mistakes. Belamri emphasized that the team needs to work on its weaknesses and find a clear style to succeed.
Coach Hamdani has made several changes to the team, including trying out new players. In the match against Burundi, he used 19 players from the 26 he called up for the September training camp. Hamdani has not yet settled on a starting lineup, and it is expected that he will make more changes in the upcoming friendly match against Niger.
The upcoming friendly match against Niger will provide Hamdani with an opportunity to try out new players and approaches. The match will be played on October 6 at the Hussein Ait Ahmed stadium in Tizi Ouzou. Hamdani is expected to make several changes to the team, including giving chances to players who have not yet played.
Algeria's struggles in the qualifiers have raised concerns among fans and analysts. The team won their first match against Zambia but drew against Burundi. The Greens need to improve their performance to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Hamdani has a tough task ahead of him to turn the team's fortunes around.
Key points
- Algeria's national football team is struggling to find form, with concerns about their defensive performance.
- Coach Ibrahim Hamdani is trying out new players and approaches to improve the team's performance.
- The team's upcoming friendly match against Niger will provide an opportunity for Hamdani to try out new players and approaches.
