Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations final will be a match of a lifetime for Algeria, says Adlene Guedioura.
The Nottingham Forest midfielder has been a key performer during his country’s historic run to Friday’s showpiece in Cairo.
Not since 1990 have Algeria contested the final of Africa’s biggest competition, when they overcame Nigeria and the country is gripped by cup fever ahead of the final.
And for Forest star Guedioura, he can’t wait to pit his wits against Senegal, a team the Desert Foxes have already beaten in the competition this summer.
“I think it’s the match of a lifetime for a lot of players in the team and for Algeria,” said Guedioura.
The 33-year-old midfielder has praised boss Djamel Belmadi for reinvigorating a nation which failed to qualify for the World Cup in Russia, having flopped in the group stages in the 2015 Cup of Nations.
“He really knows the players and what he wants. The good thing is he knows how to get through to the players and how to listen,” said Guedioura, who has played five of Algeria’s six games in the tournament.
“If you don’t have a good cook you can’t have a good recipe. With that we realise we can be all together and it’s important to be a team. "
In the group stages, Youcef Belaili netted the solitary goal to beat Senegal despite the Lions of Teranga dominating much of the game, but Algeria will go into the game with hope in their hearts.
Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez crashed in a stoppage time winner in the semi-final to beat Nigeria, and the Reds midfielder is confident his side now have the togetherness needed to win an historic trophy.
“It’s important for Algeria because we used to have good individuals and now we feel very strong as a team and we want to achieve as a team,” he added.
