Veteran journalist El-Saeed Selhani, a prominent media figure and documentary reference in Algerian sports journalism, has offered a critical assessment of the national football team's performance, arguing that recent results do not signify substantial progress. Selhani stated that the achieved outcome of a win, a draw, and qualification to the second round in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers is not significantly different from the team's performance in the 2014 Brazil World Cup under coach Vahid Halilhodžić. He emphasized the high expectations of Algerian supporters, noting that "the fans do not accept results easily, and we must compare our level with strong teams." Selhani added that "the passion of Algerian fans makes them always demand the best and not be easily satisfied with outcomes," referencing how "the fans did not even comprehend the elimination in the 1982 Spain World Cup despite achieving two historic victories against Germany and Chile." He called for objectivity, stating, "We must adopt objective criteria to know our true place among global and continental teams and clubs," and stressed that "self-evaluation and the principle of competence are necessary to address structural imbalances and recurring problems that appear in major events."
Selhani's Career and Perspective
El-Saeed Selhani commenced his journalism career at the Algerian Press Service (APS). He has since authored extensive books documenting the national team's journey since independence, along with the history of the league and the Cup. His literary works also cover prominent clubs such as JS Kabylie and MC Alger, and the player L'Hacène Lalmas. In the early nineties, Selhani established the weekly newspaper 'El Chibak', which concentrated on lower divisions and regional championships. He later headed the media department at the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) during the tenure of former president Mohamed Raouraoua. Selhani's current project involves digitizing football results, aiming to preserve Algerian football memory.
Comparing Past and Present Results
Veteran journalist El-Saeed Selhani characterized the Algerian national team's performance in World Cup finals as "reasonable and logical" when assessed against the broader standard of Algerian football. Selhani, a long-serving media figure, has extensive experience covering the sport. He was notably among the journalists who reported from the 1982 Spain World Cup. During that tournament, Selhani was among the first to raise concerns in his articles regarding a potential conspiracy between the German and Austrian national teams, which ultimately led to Algeria's elimination from the competition. His analysis frequently draws upon historical contexts and direct experiences from major international tournaments.
Addressing Structural Imbalances
Veteran journalist El-Saeed Selhani observed that Algerian clubs have experienced a prolonged inability to secure victory in the African Champions League, indicating a deeper structural issue. Selhani previously played a significant role in addressing financial hardships for the national team; his article in the newspaper 'El Nasr' detailing the team's economic difficulties prompted the late President Chadli Bendjedid to order urgent financial aid. Selhani also brought to light the specifics of the 'Kaarouf' case, an incident that resulted in Algeria's exclusion from the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, despite the team having topped its qualifying group. He asserted that he was the sole journalist to uncover the intricacies of the Kaarouf case, relying on private sources and direct interviews with the then-coach, Ighil Meziane. Selhani attributed this critical error in the Kaarouf case to overlapping administrative procedures within the federation, specifically between the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and the 1994 USA World Cup qualifiers.
Defending Mahrez and Fan Expectations
Veteran journalist El-Saeed Selhani defended Riyad Mahrez, asserting that Mahrez has contributed significantly to the national team over 12 years. Selhani described Mahrez as the best player based on his technical level, European club experience, and titles. He also expressed regret over attempts to undermine Mahrez and question his abilities due to grudges or score-settling, particularly given Mahrez's perceived alignment with former coach Djamel Belmadi. Selhani noted that Algerian fans consistently demand the best and are not easily satisfied, citing their inability to accept elimination from the 1982 Spain World Cup despite historic victories against Germany and Chile.
