GOURCUFF TO AVOID ALGERIAN MEDIA AHEAD OF AFCON QUALIFIER.

 
Algeria coach Christian Gourcuff will delay his arrival in the North African country ahead of their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia in order to avoid the media, according to Le Buteur.

The French coach’s relations with Algerian media outlets soured in the wake of the Fennec Foxes’ friendly matches against Guinea and Senegal in October last year, and things continued to be frosty over the two legs of their 9-2 aggregate win over Tanzania in 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

The main issue at hand was the future of Gourcuff with Algeria’s national team. He threatened to leave his post ahead of the matches against the Taifa Stars, hinting that they were going to be his last in charge of the team.

However, talks with Algerian FA president Mohamed Raouraoua saw him decide to remain in his position and try to lead the Foxes to qualification for both the 2017 AFCON and the World Cup in the following year.

Gourcuff was set to arrive back in Algeria on March 15, but will reportedly delay his arrival by two or three days and land just before the team goes into training. The Frenchman will also avoid the mixed zone (a space where media is given access to players and coaches) in a continued effort to avoid questions over his future.

Algeria will host Ethiopia for a Group J clash on the weekend of 23-26 March, with the return match in East Africa set for March 29.


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