CAN 2025 / Algeria vs Nigeria: "The most important thing is...", Vladimir Petkovic

CAN 2025 / Algeria – Nigeria: Petkovic emphasizes the importance of mentality

CAN 2025 / Algeria vs Nigeria: "The most important thing is...", Vladimir Petkovic

On the eve of a highly anticipated CAN 2025 quarter-final clash against Nigeria, Algeria head coach Vladimir Petkovic delivered a speech that was both measured and demanding. Speaking to the media, the tactician set the tone for a showdown where attention to detail and mental freshness will be decisive, especially with a short recovery period between matches:

“We have mainly tried to recover because there is little time between the two matches.”

The question of Ismaël Bennacer's availability remains unresolved right up until the end. Petkovic is sticking to a cautious approach:

“We’ll see. There is still one training session left, and we’ll have more answers then. Right now, I can't tell you anything on this matter.”

He then clarified: “We have one last training session, and after that I will decide which player is ready or not. Before then, I can't tell you if Bennacer is ready or not,” and finally, “For Bennacer, we’ll only know at the very last moment if he can play.”

The same uncertainty surrounds Mohamed Amine Tougai:

“He’s not at 100% yet, but we hope to have him back soon,” and “Tougai arrived injured, he hasn’t been able to fully recover, but we still hope to get him back.”

Beyond individual cases, the coach hammered home a central message:

“The most important thing is the mentality, everything starts with that, and from that perspective we have been flawless. We have confidence and quality.”

Fully aware of the opposition’s strengths, he concluded bluntly:

“Every detail will matter against Nigeria. Nothing can be left to chance. We have the quality and we believe in ourselves. Now it’s up to us to deliver a great performance.”

And he warned:

“Tomorrow we’ll have to be as solid in attack as in defense.”