Algeria, narrowly beaten in the semi-finals of the African qualifications on Wednesday, will not participate in the World Cup-2023, but this young rugby nation, astonishing and promising, has already made an appointment for the World Cup in 2027.
At the Pierre-Delort stadium in Marseille, the “selection of the Two Lions” lost by three small points (36-33) against the Kenyans, who will meet Namibia in the final on Sunday to win one of the last tickets for the Cup. of the world 2023 in France.
«We are all disappointed because we worked long and hard (…) But we are proud of this fight. We entered the African Top 4 and it’s exceptional“, analyzed after the meeting the coach of Algeria, Ousmane Mané, appointed in August 2021.
«It’s great to see a new African country rise to this level and progressCongratulated Kenyan coach Paul Odera.
Faced with athletic Kenyans, physically stronger, Nadir Megdoud’s teammates were excellent in terms of conquest: in touch, in scrum and on the ball carried – their strong point.
Alas, too many failed tackles cost them dearly.
A meteoric rise in the world rankings
«As Mandela said, you never lose, you learn. Today (Wednesday, editor’s note), we learnedsaid Ousmane Mané. With more experience, a little more vice too, maybe we would have passed».
If they did not qualify this time, the Algerians gained eight places (82nd) in the world ranking published Monday by World Rugby, which they only joined … last year. “Algeria will therefore not go to the final (…) but Algerian rugby is in the process of establishing itself among the best African nations“, noted the site Dzfoot, one of the rare media in Algiers having evoked the course of the “XV to the Two Lions”.
If in the country their performance had little echo, the public present in Marseille was however enthusiastic about this team made up of players born and evolving in France (Pro D2, National, Federal 1, even Honour). All linked to Algeria by their parents or grandparents, they honored their Federation, created in 2015 and which has only a thousand licensees in a country crazy about football. “When the referee blows his whistle, we see all the sacrifices we’ve made for months. There are some who have given up their jobs, there are all the physical sessions alone, three weeks to live together“Insisted winger Djamel Ouchène.
And it showed on the scarred faces, in the tears shed after the loss to Kenya.
The call of the foot launched to dual nationals
«There are pros and others who are not. They take unpaid leave to come, they leave wives and children and it’s hard“, recalled the hooker Mehdi Boundjema.
But so many efforts to so narrowly miss the possibility of a qualification in the pool of France will not have been in vain. The Algerians make it an objective: they have the capacity to apply among the best nations in the world. “We have ambition, if it can’t be 2023, it will be 2027“says Ousmane Mané, who has surrounded himself with an expanded staff (coaches in charge of forwards / rears, physical and mental trainers, stewards, physiotherapists / osteopaths).
But for that, “we need graduates, practitioners (…) In Algeria, there are beautiful builds, beautiful babies, temperaments, pride“, assured Mehdi Boundjema. The pillar Yassin Boutemmani thus launched an appeal to binational players: “Help us! Those who play in Top 14, in Pro D2, don’t hesitate, come! Mohamed Haouas, (pillar of the Blues with 15 selections, editor’s note), there are not 200. (…) It’s a noble cause, you are going to advance the values of rugby in a country like Algeria, who is young».
