Jamel Belmadi, the Algerian national team coach, commented on his future after the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar following the elimination by the Cameroon team. Belmadi stated, "I have been here for almost four years, where I have experienced a lot of joy. I have done everything I can to take the team out of the dark tunnel when I came in 2018."
He added, "This exclusion will please some journalists who work for certain lobbies," according to Al-Nahar newspaper. Belmadi continued, "I take full responsibility; Algeria is my country. The Algerian national team will go through difficult times in the coming months, but we must rise again." He clarified, "It is certain that Algeria is a great country, and there will be beautiful things in the future, with or without Belmadi, and I am always at the service of my country."
He concluded, "When I was useful to the team, I was present, and when I don’t feel that I am useful, I will leave quietly, and I will think about my future in the coming days."
Regarding African refereeing and Gambian referee Bakari Gassama, Belmadi said, "Refereeing injustice is not a new thing; we have been experiencing it for a long time." He added, "For a long time, we have faced disrespect where referees do not respect Algeria and tread on us."
Belmadi also sent a special message to the Algerian people after losing the dream of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, saying, "We did everything to make Algerians happy, and we worked with heart, which made me wonder what more we can offer." He stated, "We worked with great professionalism for two whole months and faced the worst scenario of elimination from the World Cup."
He continued, "I feel sad about not reaching the World Cup because we play for the country and the Algerian people, and I consider personal failure a secondary matter."
The Cameroon national football team qualified for the World Cup finals to be held in Qatar after defeating Algeria 2-1 in a match that went into extra time. Cameroonian player Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who plays for Bayern Munich, scored the first goal for the "Indomitable Lions" in the 110th minute. Algerian player Ahmed Toubâ equalized in the 118th minute, but the "Indomitable Lions" added a second goal to win just moments before the end of the match. The Desert Warriors had previously won 1-0 against Cameroon on their own turf in a match that took place on March 25.
