Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has backed Algeria for Africa Cup of Nations glory, while also hoping to see Djamel Belmadi’s squad play very well.
The Desert Warriors are making their 18th appearance in the biennial championship, with their only triumph happening in 1990 when they defeated Nigeria in the final on home soil.
Coach Belmadi has taken a relatively inexperienced group of players to Egypt compared to previous tournaments, with Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani among the team’s big names.
Algeria began their Group C campaign on a flying note after seeing off Kenya 2-0 at the 30 June Stadium, Cairo.
“We want to see the Algerian team playing well for the Algerian people,” Zidane, who is of Algerian Kabyle descent, said on beIN Sports TV.
“I want them to win the title so as to see Algerians celebrating their victory” he said.
Two north African nations come face to face with two west African countries in the semi finals of the exciting AFCON 2019.
STORY BY Sammy Heywood Okine