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Tag: Georges Leekens

  • AFCON flop: Algeria coach resigns

    AFCON flop: Algeria coach resigns

     

     

    Algeria  Georges Leekens has resigned as head coach following the team’s failure to qualify for the knockout phase of the on going Nations cup in Gabon

    A 2-2 draw with Senegal on Monday saw Algeria miss out on a qualification spot in Group B, despite having been the top seeds in the pool.

    Leekens had suggested after that match that he was keen to stay in charge to continue their qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup, but it was confirmed on Tuesday that the Belgian had agreed to step aside.

    “Given the pressure exerted on the federation and the national team, I’ve opted to end my contract out of friendship with the FAF [Algerian Football Federation], who deserve respect,” Leekens said in a statement.

    “For the benefit of everyone, I prefer to take my leave, even if I do so with an aching heart, and I wish everyone in the national team all the success in the world.”

    Algeria had been one of the favourites to challenge for the trophy in Gabon, but were surprisingly held to a draw by Zimbabwe in their opening game.

    A defeat to neighbours Tunisia and the subsequent draw with group winners Senegal sealed their fate and ultimately that of their coach. The former club Brugg and Tunisia coach regretted that things turned out the way the did as he had planned a long sojourn with the team especially ahead of the world cup, Russia 2018.

  • Why Algeria lost to Nigeria in WCQ – Leekens

    Why Algeria lost to Nigeria in WCQ – Leekens

    Algeria national team coach, Georges Leekens, has revealed why his team lost 1-3 to Nigeria in last November FIFA World Cup qualifier.

    A brace from Chelsea’s Victor Moses and captain John Obi Mikel were all the Super Eagles needed to silence the Fennecs at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

    And the tactician in an interview with Fifa.com stated what went wrong with his team despite putting up a strong performance in the second half.

    “African teams usually start games at full throttle, but without testing their opponents,” Goal quoted Leekens as saying during the interview.

    “Then, as the minutes go by, the intensity drops, which is when you have to step things up and make the difference.

    “Against Nigeria, for example, we played well in the second half, but only after we’d let in two goals in the first. If we’d played at the same level for the whole match, we’d have won.”

    Algeria is zoned in Group B of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Tunisia, Zimbabwe and Senegal, and Leekens is hoping to subdue his foes to emerge as champions.

    “We want to win this tournament and take part in the Confederations Cup. But all I’m thinking about right now is negotiating our first match well against Zimbabwe and then the second against Tunisia.

    “As far as I’m concerned, these are our two biggest games at the start of this year,” the coach added.

     

     

  • We faced a tough Nigerian team, Leekens admits

    We faced a tough Nigerian team, Leekens admits

    Despite his disappointment over his lads’ 1-3 loss to Nigeria in the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers, Algerian coach, Georges Leekens has admitted that the Nigerian side was not an easy nut to crack.

    “I must say that many things remain to be done. We still have a lot of work to do on the tactical level. We will have the opportunity to review what did not work well in this match against Nigeria. We must now think of Zambia. This team has held Cameroon and it will be difficult to beat. It proves that our next opponent has quality. We faced a great team from Nigeria,” Leekens said.

    “Let us also not forget that we had in front a very large team of Nigeria. We found great difficulties in the first or second period. This is what explains this result. This difficulty was expected. I also know that it will be more and more difficult in the coming days, because there is no easy team in this group but nothing is lost yet,” he added.

    On Algeria’s chance of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, Leekens was, however, optimistic, adding that, “In my eyes nothing is not yet played, as there are still more matches left and everything can be done by then. In any case, I refuse to believe those who say that we are eliminated. Mathematically, nothing is played and there is still a chance to pass. We will fight to the end for the Algerian people,” he explained.

  • It’ll be tough to beat Nigeria – Algeria coach

    It’ll be tough to beat Nigeria – Algeria coach

    After naming his 18-man team for the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers against Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Algeria’s coach, Georges Leekens has admitted in his maiden press briefing that the Eagles would a tough nut to crack.

    Despite acknowledging the quality of his team, Leekens confessed, “Being good will not be enough there, we have to be 200% and most effective. Nigeria will be a very difficult match, I supervised and I analysed their game, we still have a lot of work because our opponents have grown enormously. I can tell you that we shall be 200% for the fight; it must be really tough out there, because being good is not enough, believe me. We must be efficient, if we want to achieve a result. “

      “I discussed with my staff about the trust that must exist between us, we will work in full cooperation, I know time is short to prepare for a match like this, but I have been here since Wednesday and I am ready for my responsibilities in Nigeria,” he added.

      The former Tunisia coach further said: “The technique is not enough, only a good state of mind makes you win a match. The coach of Nigeria has a list of 23 professional players who play abroad, you can check the list. At the highest level, sometimes football is played on the mental level. It is not only the technique and individual class but the most important is the spirit. “

      He, however, urged his team, “Do not be afraid of this team, it is for us to raise doubts. I know we still have work hard to do it, but we should have complex against the big nations. I want us to erase the doubt about our opponents and not to give them too much respect in the way in which we play and our temperament.

      “This is how Nigeria will attack against us. Nigeria will play in the back of our defense, we know how they attack. They also seek to play between the lines, so we must be sturdy. We have already started to dissect their game. I’m finding out about this team because it is my duty,” the coach said.

      He refused to reveal his game plans for the encounter. “I will not reveal my plans, otherwise Nigerians will know everything about us and we will not reveal all, if not in two minutes, the Nigerian coach will know all about our plans. As a team, we must be smart and cleverer. Although, sometimes it is not always the smartest that win and that’s what I want to introduce into the spirit of this team.”

  • W/Cup Qualifiers: We want to win in Nigeria, Belkaroui insists

    W/Cup Qualifiers: We want to win in Nigeria, Belkaroui insists

    Tunisia-based Algerian star, Hicham Belkaroui believes beating the Nigeria’s Super Eagles will surely restore their hope of making it to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

    The Esperance of Tunisia defender told Tunisian media after the derby against Club Africain said what remains their priority to him is to help the team to beat Nigeria. “Sincerely I do not know Georges Leekens. I’ve heard of him. For me, the most important is to win in Nigeria and I want to help my team.”

    Also, Dinamo Zagreb Algerian striker, Algerian striker Hilal Al Arbi Soudani said his club fortune does not matter to him as his main target is how to tame Nigeria in their backyard.

    “We conceded a draw at home against Cameroon and allowed two precious points. The next match will take us to Nigeria, a team that recorded a victory in Zambia. So we know that our mission will be very difficult but if we can come back with a good result, our chances will be revived. We’re really confident. We will play our chances thoroughly in Nigeria and we will see what will happen.”
    For the new coach of the Algerian team, Georges Leekens believes the North Africans have the quality to make it to the World Cup in Russia. “I arrived a little late, since only a few days before this important meeting, but I’m a worker and will do everything to help the team fetch good results in Nigeria, “says Leekens. He added: “We will do everything to go to Russia but I’m not a magician, I ask you to be behind us.”