More than ever, Algeria reigns over the African continent. Holder of the title of the African Cup of Nations, won in 2019 in Egypt, the selection guided by Djamel Belmadi is unstoppable. By taking the best friendly over Tunisia (0-2), Friday night in Radès, the Algerians set a new record: the Fennecs went on a 27th game in a row without defeat, erasing Côte d’Ivoire from the shelves. Yaya and Kolo Touré, Didier Drogba and Gervinho, who had held 26 meetings without losing between 2010 and 2013.
Mahrez’s free kick
Algeria won with some well-known faces of Ligue 1 holders at kick-off – Youcef Atal (Nice), Djamel Benlamri (Lyon), Haris Belkebla (Brest), Aïssa Mandi (ex-Reims), Sofiane Feghouli (ex-Grenoble) or Ramy Bensebaini (ex-Montpellier and Rennes), but also the vice-champion of Europe and Sarcellois Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City), author of his team’s second goal from a free kick (28th minute).
“We worked tactically to hinder their exit from the ball. What the DRC (beaten last week by Tunisia, 1-0) could not do. In the second half, we had several chances to kill the match. It was a good match, tough, ”relished coach Belmadi, from Champigny (Val-de-Marne). Algeria, which will try to keep its crown in seven months during CAN 2021 (which will be played in January 2022), will face Burundi on June 16.
