CHAN 2023-Algeria: Madjid Bougherra moves from scepticism to optimism
Madjid Bougherra and the Algeria A' squad keep building confidence ahead of "their" 2023 African Nations Championship
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The Algeria A' squad continue to build confidence ahead of "their" 2023 African Nations Championship (13 January-4 February 2023). Madjid Bougherra's players have just come out of a more than satisfactory preparation camp, featuring intense training sessions, as well as two friendlies against Mali and Niger. And it is fair to say that the A' Fennecs did more than convince in those two games. They first thrashed their Malian counterparts (4-0), then beat the Nigeriens (2-0). That should reassure head coach Madjid Bougherra, who had recently voiced doubts about the level of his players.
Read more on the same subject: CHAN 2023-Algeria: Madjid Bougherra not convinced by the level of his players
"The players have worked well, we spent a lot of time on the tactical side during this camp, they responded well and applied what we wanted to do (...). I have a message for the players: I'm asking them to keep working, to look after themselves, we're entering a very difficult period, they've played a lot of games back to back, we have to avoid injuries and be professional off the pitch. The players need to be ready on the day of the CHAN, and not be overcooked. We all need to stick together, because what matters for the CHAN matters for the country", the former international defender explained in an interview with the official website of the Algerian Football Federation.
"We mustn't get carried away"
Madjid Bougherra nevertheless intends to keep working with his group so as to arrive at the CHAN in the best possible shape. "We mustn't get carried away, those games are already behind us," he warned. "Now we are going to head off on a new camp, determined to improve and win the coming games. We need to be in competitor mode in every match, that's what we try to instil in the players every time."
He went on: "It's good to string camps together, it will help the players form a sort of family, and that's how we can win a competition. We are going to play three games in Dubai, and we'll work away from prying eyes. In December, we will play a friendly at the Baraki stadium in front of our supporters."
Algeria have been drawn in Group A alongside Libya, Ethiopia and Mozambique.