Algeria’s Rafik Djebbour: I Could Have Taken Part The African Cup Of Nations

Algerian international forward Rafik Djebbour has told Al Heddaf that even though he understands why his coach, Rabah Saadane, didn’t call him up for the African Cup of Nations, he believes that he would have risen to the occasion and played well despite being short on fitness when the roster list was revealed.

“I was full of such willingness to play that I felt that I would have given the best of myself. When you play for Algeria, even if you’re not well prepared, you transcend yourself. With heart, you can do great things,” he explained.

“I know my capacities. Proof of this is that I played well on my return to AEK [Athens] and played 90 minutes as if I never stopped. But what’s done is done and we can’t go backwards now.”

Djebbour, who many Algeria fans thought was a crucial missing piece up front in the Fennecs’ lineup, also took the opportunity to express his happiness at the honorable campaign put forth by his team-mates. However, despite being very proud, the last match against Egypt certainly left a bad after taste for the Grenoble native.

“Don’t remind me of this match! I watched it alone, it was a special encounter for us and I could hardly watch it while being so far from the pitch. I cried at the final whistle. Right after the first red to [Rafik] Halliche, I quickly understood that the referee wanted to sabotage us,” said the striker.

“I was so angry that I almost broke my television. Honestly, its inadmissible for us to lose to Egypt by four goals. It’s the referee who demoralized our players from the very beginning.”

It is expected that Djebbour will make his return to the Fennecs during the upcoming friendly between them and Serbia on March 3rd.