The Algerian national football team is not exactly doing well at the Africa Cup. The country with star player Riyad Mahrez was previously assigned the favorite role, but after a draw against Sierra Leone and a defeat against Equatorial Guinea, it has its back against the wall.
To still survive at the Africa Cup, Ivory Coast absolutely has to be won on Thursday. Earlier this week, striking rumors appeared that the Algerian Football Association did not want to leave anything to chance.
They would have called on an Islamic raki, a devil charmer who had to “protect the players against evil forces”. A controversial practice that immediately drew a lot of criticism.
But on Tuesday, the Algerian federation denied the facts in all tonalities. “We condemn and regret the rumors about it,” the federation posted on its site on Tuesday evening. “The players continue to rely on their talent, character and all the work that has been done.”
