TonyStarks

[Nordino]

Hi.

I would like to thank you for your great posts on this forum. I live in Norway, but my father is Algerian, so I like to get updated with news about the football in Algeria. You are very active and I just have to praise you for that. I am sure that many others share my view.

It's an absolute shame that Algeria didn't even qualify for the ANC. The team is really bad now, but when I managed it on Football Manager () they actually had some decent players like Bougherra, Benhamou, Cherrad, Ziani and Arrache. What is wrong?

Do you think Samir Nasri, Karim Benzema, Camel Meriem (?) and Mourad Meghni will chose to play for Algeria, or will they do the same as Zidane and chose France? Even though I only have been to Algeria (Algiers) twice and don't speak either arabic or berber, I feel almost like I'm more Algerian than Norwegian. I hope those players chose to play for their parent's country.

I also have two other questions. The first question isn't related to sports, but whatever. As I said I can't speak or even understand arabic. I will possibly travel to Algiers this summer and I don't like to feel like a hopeless person who can't express himself. I have had 3 years on a french course and I know the basics, but is that enough? How many of Algeria's population speak/understands french? When I was there in 1999, not many understood English.

And at last... Who do you think win Group A in Coupe d'Afrique? The teams are Ivory Coast, Egypt, Morocco and Libya. I discovered that it is possible to get 2/1 (3) odds for Ivory Coast to win the group. In my opinion, Drogba & co are one of Africas greatest teams at the moment. Egypt is the host nation, but except from M.Zidan and Mido, I can't see they have so many good players?

Thank you,
Nordino.

[TonyStarks]

Thanks for your recognition. I try my best to keep the Algerians updated on our athletes and its tough for the non-French speakers to keep up, thats why I do what I do. To answer you one at a time:

1. Whats wrong with Algeria -> I dont know. We have some good players and on paper we should be doing some good things but its not working out. I think this time around it was just hard luck.

2. Nasri, Benzema, Meriem, Meghni & Co -> Well Meriem already played for France's national team so he cant play for Algeria. As for the rest, I think theres a small chance to see Nasri and Benzema but its unlikely for Meghni I think. He's half Portugese and there isnt much Algerian influence on him (I dont think). Then again, you never know their true intentions. We said the same thing about Madouni who plays for Bayer Leverkusen but he ended up joining the Algerian national team.

3. Algerian population -> Almost everyone can at least understand French. Its just part of everyday language in Algeria. English is almost non-existant. The only time I ever spoke English there was with some Cameroonian guy.

4. Group A at the African Cup -> First of all, Zidan isnt playing with the Egpytian team. Its unclear whether he rejected their call-up or if he didnt receieve a call-up (as he claims). Ive seen Egypt's recent friendlies and they dont look very good at all. However, they played those without Mido, who can definately change the game for them. Morocco, in their recent friendlies, also havent been too convincing but they have a lot of talented players. I'll say Ivory Coast and Morocco will make it through to the next round.