Algeria Forward Rafik Djebbour Not Concerned With Loss To Gabon

Algerian international forward Rafik Djebbour has told ENTV that he is not particularly worried about his team’s 2-1 loss to Gabon in Algiers yesterday. The Fennecs were outplayed by the West Africans for much of the game and could only muster one late consolation goal which was scored by the player in question.

“It’s a match right at the beginning of the season which means there was little preparation. Our players have hardly started training again and a lot of them haven’t even started official competitions with their clubs while the Gabonese championship has started already,” explained Djebbour.

“Plus there were a lot of changes in our team, add to that the absence of a number of starters and the participation of seven new players. It’s just a preparation match and it’s only a test to evaluate [ourselves]. There’s nothing alarming, I’m convinced that against Tanzania, in an official match, it’s going to be a totally different story.”

The Algerian team will be hoping that Djebbour’s words prove to be prophetic when they face off against Tanzania on September 3rd in their home opener of 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifying. In addition to the Taifa Stars, their group includes Morocco and the Central African Republic.

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