Yesterday we learned of the death of Hamid Merakchi, prolific scorer, the Algerian Adriano with a tragic fate, a look back at his four goals for the selection.
Destiny wants Algeria to receive the selection of Liberia today following the death of Hamid Merakchi, a team against which the deceased shone 25 years ago with a memorable double.
We are in 1999, and at 23, Hamid Merakchi, 1m92, is at the top of his art. The native of Aïn Témouchent comes out of two full seasons with ES Mostaganem, is transferred
in Türkiye at Genclerbirligi and in March he has already scored 8 goals and offered 4 assists with the Ankara club.
After a completely failed CAN 1998Algeria, army of Meziane Ighil at its head, begins THE
qualifications for the next edition. Things are off to a bad start sinceafter three matches, the Fennecs have only one pointthis while Tunisia already has nine. Merakchi, who won his first cap in Kampala, will have to wait until the 4th day to have another chance.
On April 9 in Annaba, Ighil plays his head against Liberia. The team found it difficult to score and we feared the worst: if today's opponent wins, Algeria is already eliminated…
It was then that Merakchi revealed himself with a double just before half-time. It will first be at the 43e
minutelaunched in depth by Meftah, that he resists two defenders before scoring powerfully. Two minutes later, on a cross from Reda Slatni, he rose above everyone and scoredan angry head (45'). The Greens finally won 4-1.
Two months later, after a defeat in Tunis, Algeria must still do the job against Uganda to qualify at the end of the last day of the qualifiers. Still in Annaba, he scored a double again in the same minutes against Ugandawith again an angry header on a cross from Slatni.
The Algerians are thus qualified for CAN 2000 more it's already over with the selection for Hamid Merakchiwho will experience a long sporting decline while he was this summer on the shelves of AC Milan.
DZfoot
