I haven’t seen much of the African Cup of Nations this year but from what I have seen the competition has proved interesting to say the least.
The first 38 minutes of yesterday’s semi-final between Algeria and Egypt was quite uneventful but then burst into life.
Then Algerian centre-back Rafik Halliche was sent-off for a silly lunge on Egypt striker Emad Moteab. The defender received his second yellow card for the challenge and Algeria were down to ten men. The sending off was harsh due to his first booking being very dubious.
Poor Decision
Egypt scored from the spot through Hosan Abd Rabou after staggering his run up and incensing Algerian goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi, who proceeded to man handle the referee and came close to head butting the official. What should have seen the keeper dismissed resulted in only a yellow card for the lucky custodian. If the keeper does that in the summer he won’t last long at all.
World Cup Chance?
A typical decision for this competition from what I have seen. The referee’s have proved inconsistent and have got so many key decisions wrong. The referee Codja Koffi has apparently been to two World Cup’s and is meant to be one of the best in the continent.
He is also on the shortlist for this year’s competition in South Africa. I think FIFA may even be reconsidering his place on the shortlist after the official lost control of a volatile match. The decision not to dismiss Chaouchi was a poor one and made him look very week.
Right
The decision to send off Chaouchi later on in the game was a no-brainer. It seemed the big keeper was determined to get himself dismissed. He lost his cool and the occasion obviously got to him. Portsmouth star Nadir Belhadj also lost his composure with an awful lunge and Koffi made the right decision to dismiss the Portsmouth star.
Discipline
Despite the game being between hated rivals Egypt keep their cool and took the game to the Algerians. Whereas their opponents only had one idea in mind and that was to defend for their lives. The difference in quality and discipline was noticeable, yet it’s the Algerians who will be going to next year’s World Cup. Unfortunately the old problems with Northern African player’s temperament showed for Algeria on Thursday.
Overawed
Algeria appeared to be overawed by a well organised Egyptian side. They obviously depend a lot on their defence with Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra the heart of the back four. They looked incapable of mounting a decent attack and left lone striker Abdelkader Ghezzal isolated up front.
This year’s World Cup is Algeria’s third World Cup. They registered two victories at the 1982 World Cup but on this showing they could be the whipping boys of Group C in South Africa.
Decent
They do have some decent players and ironically one of their better players Nadir Belhadj was dismissed against the Egyptians. As mentioned before Madjid Bougherra is the player that is vital for the Algerian’s. With Algeria’s game based on defence rather than attack their top defender Bougherra will have to be fantastic at this summer’s World Cup for his side to achieve anything.
One of the players who provides a bit of attacking guile and craft is Wolfsburg midfielder Karim Ziani. Like a lot of the squad he was born in France and has spent most of his career with French clubs including Marseille and Sochaux. He proved a vital player in World Cup qualifying and Ziani will also need to be at his best in South Africa this summer, if the Algerian’s don’t want to be humiliated.
Good Display
They shocked the Ivory Coast 3-2 in the quarter-finals but I think they might well have punched above their weight against the Elephants. It was by far their best performance of the tournament but the whole team had to play at their best to defeat Didier Drogba’s side, who had an off day.
Early Exit
After seeing the Algerian’s, as I suspected, they could be the weakest side in England’s group. I’d say all three other countries in Group C would fancy their chances against this temperamental outfit. I am really not being harsh on the Algerian’s the 4-0 defeat to Egypt and the fact that they ended up with eight players left on the pitch showed that on the big stage they just aren’t good enough to compete.
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