Algerian winger Said Benrahma has admitted that “there is a lot of bitterness” in regards to the Desert Foxes’ 2022 World Cup qualifying defeat to Cameroon. rrow.”
The North Africans were knocked out of the playoff round by Cameroon in controversial and dramatic circumstances, with the Indomitable Lions scoring a last-gasp goal through Karl Toko Ekambi in the second leg in Blida to make the tie 2-2 on aggregate and secure qualification for Qatar 2022 on the away goals rule.
The Algerian federation has appealed to FIFA over the performance of Gambian referee Bakary Gassama, but the world governing body is unlikely to change the decision. In the aftermath of Algeria’s World Cup exit, West Ham United attacker Benrahma shared his views.
“It was a little tough,” he told beIN, as quoted by Afrik-Foot.
“We are awaiting the verdict of FIFA in this case. Those who followed the meeting could see the errors of arbitrations.
It’s hard to lose like this and not qualify. If it hadn’t been for these faults, we would have accepted the situation and the defeat. There is a lot of bitterness.
“We gave our best. After four years of hard work, everything is flying off this way. It’s hard to digest.
“But that’s football. If FIFA’s verdict is not in our favour, we will have to look to the future. We will still work and try to qualify for the [next] World Cup [in 2026].”