Bounedjah is one of the best strikers in the world: Belmadi

CAIRO - 13 July 2019: Algeria national team manager, Djamel Belmadi, praised the team's starting striker, Baghdad Bounedjah, ahead of Algeria's semi-final clash against Nigeria on Sunday night at Cairo Stadium.

“He is one of the best strikers in the world. He is very important for us and he scored many goals during the qualifiers. Missing the penalty against Ivory Coast is not the end.” Belmadi said on Saturday.

Bounedjah, 27, missed a penalty during the first minutes of the second half when Algerian players were leading the game 1_0.

Ivory coast equalized the score 10 minutes later to send the game to extra time and penalty shootouts which decided the game for Algeria.

Belmadi added “ We are only two steps from the title and we have to be ready.”

Algeria will play at Cairo Stadium for the first time in this tournament as they played their group stage games at 30 June and Al Salam stadiums.

They faced Guinea at the round of 16 at 30 June Stadium before heading to Suez to face Ivory Coast.
Algerian fans are expected to pack the stadium to support their team.