National team coach Madjid Bouguera addressed the media Friday ahead of Algeria’s crucial Arab Cup match against Bahrain. Bouguera discussed the team’s preparations and ambitions, emphasizing the squad’s determination to secure a positive result and revitalize their chances in the tournament.
“We will fight for our chances until the very last match,” Bouguera stated. “We have re-examined our performance from the previous game, identified our mistakes, and extracted both the positive and negative aspects to improve our level of play.”
He acknowledged the Bahraini team’s strong motivation but assured that the Algerian squad is well-prepared and will hold their final training session later today. Bouguera also addressed the reactions of Algerian fans following the draw in the first round.
“We understand that the fans were not happy with the result of our last match, and that’s normal,” he said. “We are the defending champions, and the challenge is significant. In the previous match, we were not up to par, but the most important thing is that we didn’t lose.”
“We are well aware of what awaits us in this special edition of the tournament, and we will give our best to make the Algerian people happy,” Bouguera added. He also defended Islam Slimani and Adam Ounas against recent criticism, affirming the coaching staff’s confidence in both players.
Regarding Slimani, Bouguera said, “I haven’t seen everything that was said, but Slimani entered in difficult circumstances and didn’t perform at his usual level. I rely on him as a joker, and he knows that, and the fans know his value. Perhaps it was a moment of anger given the result.”
Concerning Adam Ounas’s red card, Bouguera explained, “We know he made a big mistake, but he is a respectful and hardworking player, and we support him because we know how beneficial he is to the team thanks to his talent. He is a member of our group, and we must stand behind him.”
