Moussa Saib to Echourouk: Belloumi is talking nonsense

The former international Moussa Saib has lambasted the 1980s star Lakhdar Belloumi following this latter’s declarations made to Echourouk when he said that Algeria would have never clinched the African trophy in 1990 if hosted elsewhere.

Belloumi has noted that the Algerian squad where eliminated in the first round with the same players and coach when the tournament took place in Senegal in 1992.

Moussa Saib has replied that Belloumi would have never said that if he was selected in 1990 adding that this one is talking nonsense because he doesn’t posses any data concerning the real reasons behind their setback in Senegal that year.

Talking to Echouorouk, Moussa Saib said” History will record that the Algeria won its first and unique African trophy so far in 1990 no matter where the tournament took place and no body can deny our supremacy back then”.

Former AJ Auxere ace player went on saying” Mentalities should change and we shouldn’t about things we do not know, I was among the players that took part to the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations… It’s true that we were ousted in the first round but not because , as Belloumi thinks, that we were not fit physically and technically to go through the second round or something like that… In 1992 we suffered a lot because of the tragedy that swept through the country then; imagine that we moved to Senegal without outfits , the players were down and out there a was a talented generation of players but this generation has been decimated because of the tragedy”.

Giving his opinion about the disqualification of the national squad in the first round of the African Cup of Nations in South Africa, Saib declared” I was really disappointed at this disqualification  especially that we were the first squad to leave South Africa after two matches but the head coach has predicted this before the start oft the tournament… Our disqualification in the first round is no big deal the problem doesn’t lay on Hallilozich , but on us.. How can a squad reach the semi-finals of such a prestigious tournament with players performing for the first time in such an environment”.