On the eve of AFCON 2025, Khaled Lemmouchia sounds the alarm

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With AFCON 2025 approaching, Lemmouchia issues a warning

On the eve of AFCON 2025, Khaled Lemmouchia sounds the alarm

Former Algerian international Khaled Lemmouchia did not mince his words when analyzing the recent performances of the Fennecs. As a guest on the After Foot show on RMC, the ex-midfielder—who wore the Algeria jersey 29 times between 2008 and 2012, including appearances at the 2010 AFCON in Angola and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa—was particularly critical.

"Qualifying with 48 teams is not an achievement; personally, I'm disappointed by the matches' content, which is much too poor. There’s also a lot to say about some players who are letting us down," he declared, visibly frustrated by the lack of intensity and collective ideas shown by the national team.

Though he never scored for Algeria, Lemmouchia was renowned for his fighting spirit and defensive discipline. He believes that the national team must raise its game if it hopes to compete with the continent’s elite at AFCON 2025 and the 2026 World Cup. His message, direct and unfiltered, rings out as a warning just months before these major tournaments.

💬 Khaled Lemmouchia :

« Se qualifier avec 48 équipes n'est pas un exploit, personnellement je suis déçu du contenu des matchs qui est beaucoup trop pauvre. Il y a aussi 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗽 à dire 𝘀𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗶 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁. »

(@AfterRMC) pic.twitter.com/Nn6E8qaTGM

— 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂 𝗗𝗭 ☪︎ (@ActuDZ_) October 3, 2025