By Anye Valentine, In Bamenda
Algeria’s national team trainer, Djamel Belmadi has expressed worries about Cameroon’s choice of the stadium that will see the two countries compete to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
The Desert Foxes had a bad campaign in the just ended AFCON which saw them being eliminated at the group level of the showpiece.
The defending champions were flushed out of the football jamboree by Ivory Coast at the Japoma stadium.
This has caused the country to see the pitch in the economic city of Cameroon as a nightmare.
Granting a press conference in Algeria over the weekend to give an account of their short stay in Cameroon during the AFCON 2021, Coach Belmadi raised grieving concerns about Japoma.
“Exceptionally, they make us play at Japoma. We are traumatized by the pitch; not by the stadium or the town. We are travelling for tourism” he revealed.
The Desert Foxes’ coach further added that Cameroon will be a hard nut to crack since both teams want to qualify for Qatar.
“It is not the same ingredients just with the desire that we are going to run for the world cup. Cameroon also wants to go there. It’s going to take something exceptional,” he said.
Although Cameroon appears to be a heavyweight for Algeria, the North African Country’s trainer did not give in to despair.
“I have an optimistic and ambitious nature. We are going to play a very, very big match. It’s for the World Cup. It’s not going to be a simple match.”
Coach Belmadi concluded the press conference stating how disappointing and humiliating it was for his foot soldiers to have left the CAN at the group stage.
He however urged his players to be strong and courageous in order to face challenges that lie ahead.