The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has terminated the contract of national team coach Djamel Belmadi following their difficult TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Cote d’Ivoire.
The decision to sever ties with the former international player came after the Desert Foxes suffered a 1-0 defeat against Mauritania in Bouake on Tuesday.
The loss against Mauritania hastened Algeria’s early elimination at the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON.
Belmadi’s contract was due to run until 2026 but the decision was taken to prematurely end the agreement following their showing in the tournament.
FAF president Walid Sadi announced the decision on Wednesday after meeting with Belmadi to discuss Algeria’s group stage elimination from the 2023 tournament.
“We have reached an amicable agreement to end the contract between coach Djamel Belmadi and the Algerian Football Federation,” Sadi said in a tweet.
“We thank him for everything he has done for the team and wish him good luck.”
Algeria had two draws in the competition after being held 1-1 by Angola and 2-2 by Burkina Faso before the defeat against the Mauritanian team made them finish bottom of Group D.
It is the first time since 1994 that Algeria has failed to progress from the group stage in back-to-back TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations.
Appointed in 2018, Belmadi led Algeria to victory at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. But his side have struggled to replicate that form over the past year.
Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to Mauritania proved the final straw for the FAF, who have now begun the search for Belmadi’s successor.
