Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi lauded his side’s “incredible” Africa Cup of Nations triumph on Friday as Baghdad Bounedjah’s early goal earned a 1-0 victory over Senegal in the final.
“I’m very happy. Our whole nation, our people were waiting for this second star for a long time,” said Belmadi, who took charge of a squad in disarray last August. “I said we were going to the Cup of Nations to win. I wanted to send a strong message to the players, to tell them I was committing to a strong project. Titles are what interest me,” he recalled.For Senegal, who also lost to Algeria 1-0 in the group stage, the long wait for a first continental crown goes on as coach Aliou Cisse, the captain of the 2002 runners-up, again fell short in the final.
Senegal had understandably feared the absence of Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly, banned after two bookings in the knockout rounds, although his replacement Salif Sane was desperately unlucky as Algeria grabbed the lead with scarcely a minute played.