Saadane, Madjer to lead Algeria into new era

Lucas Alcaraz

Monday Oct 16, 2017. 11:30

Following the dismissal of Lucas Alcaraz as Algeria coach last week, the country’s Football Federation (FAF) has moved to install a new leadership structure.

Rabah Madjer will be the new coach of the Fennec Foxes, while Rabah Saadane has already been confirmed as the new technical director of the FAF.

The Federation president Kheireddine Zetchi has moved quickly to try and remodel the national team following their disastrous 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Not only will Algeria miss out on Russia 2018, but they will finish bottom of Group B regardless of their result against already-qualified Nigeria next month.

Saadane, who has had several spells in charge of the national team and oversaw their successful qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, made certain demands before signing with the FAF.

According to Le Buteur, Saadane “will have carte blanche to put in place his strategy for the revival of national football. He will have a right to look at the selections of young people, and will oversee the various surveys that will take place across the country in the future”.

He will also work closely with Madjer, another who has had multiple spells in charge of Algeria. The former Porto star is set to be the head of an expanded technical team, which is also likely to include Djamel Menad and Meziane Ighil.

The new Fennec Foxes leadership has set themselves the goal of reaching the semifinals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.