Before upsetting West Germany and crashing onto the scene in the 1982 World Cup, a talented Algerian national team participated in the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics.
Savants of Algerian football usually earmark that summer of 1980 as the budding of a ‘Golden Generation’, which would qualify for two World Cup finals and advance to an astounding five AFCON semi-finals in a single decade.
Lakhdar Belloumi, Rabah Madjer, and Salah Assad were some of the national treasures that would wow the nation with their exploits.
When Brahimi, Mahrez and other stars of today are extolled, fathers and grandfathers tiringly reference the 80s generation which was almost exclusively produced in Algeria – a source of pride, especially as most players in today’s national team are born abroad.
It’s in this curious context that Algerians are following the results of Pierre-Andre Schurmann’s Under-23 side, who have qualified for the semi-finals of the Cup of Nations in Senegal, and are but a win away from qualifying for next summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
In Abdelkader Salhi, Zinedine Ferhat, and Oussama Darfalou, coach Schurrman has a talented nucleus of his own looking to become the nation’s next footballing Olympians.
The goalkeeper, Salhi, has been ASO Chlef’s man between the sticks in consecutive seasons and has accumulated the highest total clean-sheets of any goalkeeper in the Algerian Championnat since 2014.
Ferhat has easily been Algeria’s best player in Senegal. The 22-year-old is a complete winger, capable of tirelessly attacking and defending thanks to his preternatural endurance levels.
He already has a League and cup title to his name, and was two matches from helping USM Alger to its first CAF Champions League title in November.
Darfalou is Algeria’s head honcho, but has carried a hamstring injury, which has significantly hampered his physical capabilities. The USM Alger striker will undergo a late fitness test, but should he rediscover his form, Darfalou will be Les Fennecs’ most dangerous weapon.
Schurmann is credited with harnessing a yoke on a side in which 10 different club sides are represented. The 55-year-old came to Senegal an underdog, but used the tag to develop a compact tactical approach, which concedes possession of the ball and focuses, instead, on blitzing counter-attacks.
In three matches, Algeria conceded a solitary goal, and all three goals for were created in counter-attacking play.
Algeria’s defensive solidity was key to topping Group B, which Schurmann’s staff hope is an advantage. Winning the group meant avoiding hosts Senegal, and drawing South Africa, who albeit have performed magnificently.
Schurmann confirmed that notion in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference, stating, “I’m glad we finished at the top of our group and qualified for the semi-finals. Now we will prepare for the match against South Africa; it was important to avoid the host country in the semi-finals.”
That is not to say Algeria will take Owen da Gama and his charges lightly. Astute supporters of the Algerian national team will remember the towering Rivaldo Coetzee, who actively participated in the early dismantling of the Algerian national team last January.
Algerians have also kept tabs on Tunisia, who can play a similar style, but Da Gama’s young men have twice put Algeria’s eastern neighbours to the sword.
With five goals in three matches, Amaglug-glug boast the second-best attack of the tournament. Tonight’s fixture may, therefore, shape up as a clash of playing styles.
On paper, Les Fennecs and Amaglug-glug seem evenly matched, and both sides will be relieved to know that, in case of defeat, a place in Rio will still be available to the winner of Saturday’s consolation final.