FIFA’s President pays Algeria a huge compliment for 1982 World Cup game

President of the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) Gianni Infantino Tuesday praised the Algerian team which was brilliant in 1982 World Cup held in Spain.

Infantino expressed disappointment over the current state of African football, saying he expected a better future.

The FIFA’s President said he was impressed by the Algerian and Cameroonian teams in World Cup 1982.

“I have Italian origins. I was young in 1982 when Spain hosted World Cup. I was impressed by matches played by Algeria and Cameron. I will never forget their wonderful shows especially Algeria’s victory over Germany,” Infantino said in a conference organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Rabat.

“At that time, I said world football future is in Africa. Thirty five years later, African football could not even reach World Cup semi finals. This pushes us to ask about reasons behind African football ambitions regression,” he added.

The conference has been the first of its kind since Aissa Hayato  Aissa Hayato was replaced by Ahmed Ahmed at the head of the CAF. Former football stars attended it. Of them, there was Algerian Rabah Madjer who was part of the team who defeated Germany in 1982.