Saadane resigns as Algeria coach after Tanzania draw

Saadane quit after his team’s dispiriting opening home draw

The Algeria Football Federation confirmed that Saadane had tendered his resignation following the disappointing result and that it had been accepted.
Saadane took charge three years ago and steered Algeria to their first World Cup in 24 years in South Africa.
But they went home early after gaining just a point from three group games.
The federation said that Algeria’s under-17 coach Abdelhak Ben Chikha will take charge on a caretaker basis.
The 64-year-old previously considered quitting after his team were eliminated from the World Cup at the first hurdle without scoring a goal, but decided to stay on after being awarded a two-year contract extension.
The North Africans finished bottom of Group C after losing to Slovenia and the United States and drawing with England.
However, his extended stay proved short-lived as the Algerians, who reached the semi-finals of the Cup of Nations in Angola in January, opened their 2012 campaign with a dispiriting home draw with the Taifa Stars in Algiers.
The visitors led the Group D favourites when Abdi Kassim fired home a free-kick from 30-yards after 33 minutes.
Adlene Guedioura’s equaliser on the stroke of half-time was enough to save some of the Desert Foxes‘ blushes, but not enough for Saadane to remain as coach.
Saadane has had five stints in all in charge of the national side, including in 1986, when he also led the side to the World Cup finals, in Mexico.