Algeria made a bold decision to part ways with their coach, Djamel Belmadi, after their unexpected elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations. The stunning exit came after a shocking defeat to Mauritania in the final group stage match in Ivory Coast.
The announcement of Belmadi’s departure was made by the Algerian Football Federation president, Walid Sadi, who stated, “I met national coach Djamel Belmadi to discuss the implications of this bitter elimination, and we came to an amicable agreement to end our relationship and to terminate his contract.”
This move was in line with the ongoing trend, as Ivory Coast also relieved their coach, Jean-Louis Gasset, from his duties midway through the tournament, and Ghana similarly let go of Chris Hughton post their elimination.
The reigning champions of the 2019 edition in Egypt faced a significant setback, as they were ousted in the group stage during the last tournament in Cameroon, managing only one point and a single goal.
Belmadi’s team had a lackluster performance in the recent campaign, drawing their initial two matches in Group D against Angola and Burkina Faso. The team’s fate hinged on securing a point against Mauritania in Bouake to move on to the knockout phase, but they failed to deliver, ending their AFCON journey prematurely.
The fresh development sheds light on the abrupt shifts in the coaching landscape within African football, leaving fans and experts intrigued about the future implications for the national teams.
