'We need to play a team that plays like Morocco' - Milovan Rajevac explains Algeria friendly

'We need to play a team that plays like Morocco' - Milovan Rajevac explains Algeria friendly

Lukman Mumuni
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:50 PM
In this article:
CAF Africa Cup of Nations logo
CAF AFCON
Africa
  • Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac has explained the Black Stars' choice of playing Algeria before the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon
  • The Ghana Football Association and the Algeria Football Federation agreed for a friendly between the two countries in Qatar
  • The Black Stars open their AFCON 2021 campaign with a titanic group C clash against Morocco

Head coach of the Black Stars, Milovan Rajevac has disclosed that playing against Algeria in a friendly before AFCON 2021 will give the team an idea of what to expect against Morocco.

Ghana open their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a game against the Atlas Lions of Morocco on January 10, 2021.

In an interview with Citi Sports, the Serbian trainer explained the rational behind Algeria's choice for a pre-tournament game.

Milovan Rajevac leading the Black Stars. SOURCE: Twitter/ @ghanafaofficial
'We need to play a team that plays like Morocco' - Milovan Rajevac explains Algeria friendly. SOURCE: Twitter/ @ghanafaofficial
Source: Twitter
“The reason is very simple, we play against Morocco in the first game, and we need to play a team that has a similar approach to football," said Milovan Rajevac.
"Before the World Cup in 2010, we played against Bosnia because we had a game against Serbia and so it is the same reason for choosing Algeria. We need to familiarise ourselves with such teams. Also, because I have coached there before, I know the team very well," he added.

The Black Stars will begin pre-AFCON camping on Friday in Doha, Qatar.

The team will spend three weeks, where a series of friendlies including the Algeria game has been lined up for the Black Stars.

Ghana is chasing a fifth AFCON title after last winning the tournament in 1982, but have been close three times since. The team reached the finals of the 1992, 2010 and 2015 competition.

Interestingly, Milovan Rajevac was head coach when the Black Stars lost to Egypt in the 2010 final in Angola.

Milovan Rajevac wants to win AFCON 2021

Earlier, SportsBrief.com reported that, Black Stars trainer Milovan Rajevac is cautiously optimistic of Ghana's chances at next year's Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

The Serbian tactician named a 30-man provisional team for pre-AFCON camping on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at the Ghana Football Association secretariat.

In a meeting with the press, Milovan Rajevac said he is confident his team can end Ghana's 40-year trophy drought.

Authors
Lukman Mumuni photo
Lukman Mumuni
Lukman Abdul Mumin is a Sports Journalist based in Accra, Ghana. He has been writing for the past five years. Lukman joined Sports Brief as an Editor for the Local Desk in 2022.