The former Algerian glory recently shared his views on the current state of the Algerian national team. Above all pointing out a lack of Fennecs from the Algerian championship and too low consideration from the selectors for them.
Still active in the world of football, Rabah Madjer continues to make his voice heard. Currently a television consultant and involved in projects in Qatar, the former glory of FC Porto did not fail to share his opinion on a subject that is close to his heart: the promotion of players playing in Algeria.
In an interview given to the Portuguese media ZerozeroMadjer pointed to a persistent lack of interest on the part of Algeria's coaches for local talent:
« National team players mainly play in France. They have a lot of quality, just like the Algerians who play in my country”they recall. Before drawing up an observation that bothers him. The players are not the problem. The problem is that the Algerian coaches do not look at the players who play in Algeria », laments the former Algerian glory.
At least the position is clear. Rabah Madjer, famous for his decisive role as an Algeria player, but also for his stints on the Fennecs bench, has never stopped defending the idea that local players deserved more attention. During his tenure as coach, he often insisted on the importance of a balance between talents from the diaspora and players from the national championship.
A change under Petkovic
In 2002, while leading the Greens for CAN in Nigeria, Madjer had summoned no less than 14 local players (Gaouaoui, Zaffour, Hadou, Meftah, Dziri, Kherkache, Samadi, Abdouni, Zeghdoud, Diss, Bounekdja, Slatni, Raho, Bendahmane). Although football has changed, it is a trend that he reaffirmed in 2017, during his short-lived return to the head of the Fennecs, by calling up 11 players playing in Algeria for his first match against Nigeria: Chaouchi, Chafai, Nessakh, Abdellaoui, Arous, Benguit, Djabou, Ferhani, Rahmani, Salhi, Ziti.
Certainly, Algerian clubs are struggling to establish themselves on the continental scene. You have to go back ten years to see a title in Champions League won by ES Setif. However, the Algerian championship is considered the third best in Africa according to the CAF Ranking 2024-25, behind Moroccan Botola and the Premier League Egyptian.
With Vladimir Petkovic at the helm and the beginnings of recognition for some local talents like Madani, Radouanie, Benbot and Bouhalfaya, a change seems to be beginning. But as Madjer reminds us, there is still a long way to go to restore the Algerian championship and its talents to a place of choice in the national team.
