Saphir Taider: We must take the blame for not reaching the World Cup

Algerian player Saphir Taider (R) fights for the ball with Zambian player Patson Daka (L) during the World Cup 2018 qualifying football match between Algeria and Zambia in Constantine, Algeria on 05 September 2017 © BackpagePix

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Thursday Dec 07, 2017. 14:30

Algerian international midfielder Saphir Taider has admitted that they are to blame for their 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The Desert Foxes midfielder, however, refuted claims that changes in the technical team contributed to their failures in the qualifying campaign.

Algeria parted ways with coach Lucas Alcaraz during their campaign and roped in Rabah Madjer, but the 25-year-old midfielder said players must take responsibility.

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Apart from Alcaraz, Milovan Rajevac and George Leekens are some of the coaches who led the team in their failed attempt to reach Russia.

"The most important thing is that we the players question ourselves," the Bologna player told BBC Sport.

"It would be too easy to blame a coach or others, so we have to assume responsibility.

"We have to lift our heads and we have to start afresh, not from zero but from what we are capable of so that we can prepare for the next few matches."

Although they reached the previous edition in Brazil, Algeria drew just two games in their 2018 qualifiers as they finished behind Cameroon, Zambia and Nigeria.

"Many things have been said. There was a president, who now is no longer president, he made the choice of changing the coach," adds Taider.

"We are the players and we are obliged to follow certain rules. When it comes to coaches there are some that the players are comfortable with and others that they aren't.”