CAF U-23 CHAMPIONSHIP: ALGERIA VOWS TO COMPOUND DREAM TEAM'S WOES

By NBF News

• Maigari
Ahead of Dream Team V's last match on Friday, Algeria's captain, Moh'd Shalali, has said that though there were injury concerns in his team, they were physically and mentally ready to stop the Austin Eguavoen-led team from picking a slot for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Speaking to the media before their departure to the venue of the encounter in Marakech, the Aberdeen FC of Scotland player, however, noted that the game against the Dream Team would be a very difficult one, even though he might not take part due to the injury he picked against Morocco.

'We have some good players in our line-up. We may have lost the game against Morocco, but we will get to our peak level on Friday.

'However, I think it would be a difficult game against Nigeria. Some of us would undergo fitness test before the game to ascertain the level of our readiness. The good thing is that greater number of us are mentally and physically prepared for the game.

'I feel bad that I will not be playing against Nigeria because of injury. I pray that my absence would not be felt and I hope we shall win the game,' Moh'd said. The Aberdeen star also used the opportunity to do a general assessment of the championship, arguing that the Moroccans were unjustifiably favoured at the detriment of other teams like Nigeria and Algeria, just as he commended the weather condition of the host country.

'I really enjoyed the weather here. I feel that I'm in paradise because Scotland is very cold.

'The arrangement of the championship is not good because it is bad playing three games in six days.

'It is even worse that the two teams will play in Marakech without any preparation. It may even be impossible for those that are injured to recover.

'The schedule of the game and jetlag are not good for the players. They will not help in bringing out the best at the championship.'But why is it that the host, Morocco, doesn't travel,' he queried. 'It is always Nigeria and Algeria that must travel. I think it is not a good arrangement,' he complained.