adminIshemunyoro Chingwere
ALGERIA coach Georges Leekens was last week forced to convene a news conference to defend his decision to continue with 31-year-old goalkeeper Rais M’Bohli as his first choice.Algeria, one of 2017 Africa Cup of Nations con pre-tournament favourites, are in Group B together with the Warriors, Senegal and Tunisia and open their campaign on Sunday with a date against Kallisto Pasuwa’s men.
However, Algerian fans and media reckon that having M’Bohli will be a recipe for disaster. Many had hoped their Belgian coach would replace M’Bohli with the controversial Faouzi Chaouchi of MC Alger.
The 31-year-old Chaouchi shot to world prominence when he head-butted the referee in an ill-tempered 2010 Afcon semi-final match against eternal rivals Egypt.
M’Bohli on his part has not played a single minute for his Turkish club Antalyaspor this season. Last season, he made just five appearances. The big goalie joined his current club amid high hopes after yet another barren spell in the US Major League where he made a paltry nine appearances in two years for Philadelphia Union FC.
But with no alternatives at his disposal, Leekens has been forced to jump and defend his number one goalie and said he will engage Antalyaspor coach Riza Calimbay after the Afcon finals to see how best the goalie can be assisted.
“M’Bohli is an exception,” Leekens is quoted as saying by Liberte-algerie.com.
“He will start for the team at the Afcon, but it is important to take up his situation with his club after the tournament. “I know he does not play at Antalyaspor in Turkey but that must not be allowed to continue.”
Leekens’ men played a friendly against Mauritania late last night and will play the same opponent on Tuesday. Elsewhere, Tunisia coach Henry Kasperzcak is worried by his team’s defensive frailties.
Tunisia open their group B fixtures against Senegal on January 15 before winding with a date against the Warriors on January 23.
But after watching his men concede six in two matches, against a Catalonia select and Basque select in Spain, Kasperzcak said the team must overcome its shortcomings at the back if they are to make an impression in Gabon.
The North Africans forced Catalonia to a 3-all draw before going down 3-1 to the Basque in friendly matches played in Spain.
“The defensive errors committed in the two friendly matches against Catalonia and the Basque Country are important lessons to be corrected before Afcon 2017,” Kasperzcak is quoted as having said by Tunisian media.
“It is important not to commit such defensive faults when we get there (in Gabon),” he said.
However, Kasperzcak was impressed to see his men keep a clean sheet when they beat Uganda 2-0 in another friendly on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Senegal are stepping up their preparations with Liverpool’s Sadio Mane, Everton’s Idrissa Gueye and West Ham’s Cheikhou Kouyate. All have started training with the Lions of Teranga.
Mane has been the leading light for Liverpool and is hoping to return from national duty with his side still in good form.
“We have done good work and we have a strong team so it will be no problem, they will do it. “It won’t be easy for me to leave because I would like to help them but I think they will understand,” the striker was quoted as saying by Liverpool’s website last week.
Online Reporter