African Nations Cup – Coach Steps Down

7 June 2011

Algeria coach Abdelhak Benchikha has resigned his post following last Saturday’s 4-0 African Nations Cup qualifying defeat to Morocco.

Goals from Mehdi Benatia, Marouane Chamakh, Yousouff Hadji and Oussama Assaidi gave the Atlas Lions three points over the Desert Foxes in Marrakech.

The result puts Morocco on seven points at the top of Group D after four games played, with Central Africa, Algeria and Tanzania on four points apiece with two matches remaining.

Algeria could therefore still qualify for the 2012 African Nations Cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea but after one of their heaviest defeats in recent history, Benchikha has decided to call time on his tenure.

The Algerian Football Federation revealed that Benchikha, who was only appointed in September last year following the resignation of Rabah Saâdane, told his players of his decision immediately after the match.

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