The Algerian "Draw" Theory

Algeria Football team coach Rabah Saadane admitted that he and his team were actually playing for a draw against Angola, since they knew that they would go through into the next round in the Africa Cup of Nations. This has cost Mali, who, despite a victory against Malawi lost their chance to advance in the tournament. Saadane was quoted saying "We had the rules and knew that if Mali won, we would go through. So we said to our players: 'Now stop. Either score or draw - absolutely minimum." to the team, when they were sure of the spot.




It is shameful and completely against the ethics of the game play, when a team is admitting that they played for a draw, rather than victory. News like these will certainly be killing the interest of a football fan in his favorite game. Algeria, who levelled Mali in their group according to the points table, will now advance into the next round match, while Mali goes out of the tournament. Mali has anyway lodged a protest against the Algerian and Angolan teams, at the Confederation of African Football, saying that the sides purposefully played out a goalless draw to ensure their respective progress into the further rounds.