Meghni: I’m Fit Again, We Can Qualify to the World Cup
Algeria ace Mourad Meghni said he signed a 3 year deal with Qatari side Umm Salal, adding that he is eager to return to the national squad and defend qualification chances to the African Cup of Nations 2013 and the World Cup in Brazil 2014.
Meghni who left Italian side Lazio this year for Qatar, told Echorouk reporter that he does not “regret his decision to join Umm Salal, given that it was the sole concrete offer I’ve received, so far.”
Former Lazio midfielder further reassured the Desert Foxes’ fans about his injury, saying “It’s not serious, I’ve endured a muscle cramping, and I’m fit now,” adding that “this has nothing to do with the ligament injury which sent me away for a year and a half.”
As for critics on the decision of several Algeria international aces to join the Qatari championship, including Nadir Belhadj (Al-Sad), Karim Ziani (al Jaish) and Madjid Bougherra who is linked with a move to Lakhwia, Meghni said: “Well, I admit that the level of the Qatari championship is lower than any championship in Europe, but I believe that the players here would have a larger playing time, which would help them maintaining their shape and their technical and tactical skills.”
Concerning the FIFA World Cup qualifiers which drew Algeria in Group H with Mali, Benin and the winner between Rwanda and Eritrea, Umm Salal midfielder said: “In modern football, you cannot say this group is hard and that is easy; just look at the difficulties we encountered in CAN 2012 qualifiers in a group composed of Morocco, Tanzania and Central Africa,” adding “the African football has improved a lot, we have to work hard to be fit for the upcoming games, in order to avoid any bad surprise.”
Meanwhile, Meghni paid tribute to all the Desert Foxes’ fans “who supported me in the hard moments I went through, and now I want to work hard to get back my shape, and contribute in making them happy again,” stressing that “the next goals of the Greens are qualifying to the CAN 2013 and the World Cup 2014 in Brazil.”
Meghni further added that he is eager to attend the training camp of the national squad, scheduled for 7 to 11 August in France. “I’m happy to see my teammates again, and eager to embrace the wonderful brotherly ambiance inside the group, and I hope we would work hand in hand with our new manager (Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic) for the new brand era.”
As for the life in Qatar, Meghni said: “Well, I’m living in the hotel with my small family, and I’m enjoying life here during the holy month of Ramadan, as we train on the night rather than in the day time as it was the fact when I was in Europe, so I’m happy to fast in a Muslim country.”