The Algerian selection experienced a strange setback when it arrived in Ivory Coast for the CAN.
After dominating Burundi in its final friendly match, the Algerian team took up residence in Bouaké in Ivory Coast with a view to its participation in the CAN. At the airport, the Fennecs were rather well received. On the other hand, the same cannot be said of the treatment they received in their training camp.
Algeria and Belmadi scrutinized by their hosts?
According to several corroborating sources, Mahrez and his teammates had the unpleasant surprise of seeing a drone fly over them during their training session. A drone which then crashed because it no longer had a charge. A player was very close to being injured. The device was then confiscated by security members.
2 – 2019 @CAF_Online AFCON Champions Algeria were eliminated in the group stage of the 2021 edition, and are looking to avoid being knocked out in the group stage of consecutive AFCON tournaments for the first ever time. Previous. #AFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/29tQ2BGU9v
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 11, 2024
The episode certainly must not have pleased Djamel Belmadi, the coach of this team, too much. The latter is very keen on everything that is respect for the living environment and a good working environment. The organizers are likely to hear some bad news from him during his next media outing.
Algeria begins its CAN journey next Monday against Angola. The Greens will then face Burkina Faso and Mauritania in their group.
In Ivory Coast, Algeria will try to avoid a second elimination in a row from 1er CAN tower. A mishap that it has never experienced in its entire history.