We Should Forget World Cup And Focus On AFCON - Algeria FA President

Algeria Football Federation (FAF) president Mohamed Raouraoua has said the country should now turn their attention to the forthcoming AFCON in Gabon away from the qualifying series for the 2018 World Cup.


After two rounds of matches, Algeria are bottom of their group in the qualifying tournament for Russia 2018.

The FAF boss said Algeria plan to win a second AFCON trophy in Gabon after their first win in 1990 at home.

“We have to forget the defeat in Nigeria and the 2018 World Cup and now think of the more immediate AFCON in Gabon,” Raouraoua implored.

“The AFCON will be an interesting challenge for us and who says we cannot come back to Algiers with the trophy?”

Algeria are drawn against Senegal, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe at Gabon 2017, which will be played between January 14 to February 5.

He said he believes Algeria will present a better challenge when the World Cup qualifiers resume in August.

“The qualifiers will resume in August and by then we will have four games left,” he said.

“We hope then to have a better team ready to fight.”