Team Manager Quits African Champions over “Lies, Hate”

Former player and Algerian national team manager Hakim Medane has opted to quit in the wake of a “lies and smear campaign” levelled against him.

Medane has been a trusted figure for Africa Cup of Nations-winning gaffer Djamel Belmadi after serving at the post for twenty-four months.

Both being former internationals, it was believed Medane’s inclusion could help ease the pressure off the shoulders of Belmadi. Their relationship has been dubbed “perfect” until Algeria travelled out to Egypt for the African Cup.

Hakim believed concocted stories said about him by detractors from within the team’s management and thus thought it best to resign.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “Good luck to the various staffs of the National Team, the national coach, and the players. I’m proud to have volunteered for the National Team of my country as general manager, after having done it as a player.”   [/perfectpullquote]

“After more than two years as general manager, I feel tired and disgusted by a hate campaign aimed at me and the Federation. So I preferred to leave room for another skill to continue this mission,” he told Algerian FA site without explaining what he meant by “hate campaign.”

Other reports monitored in the Algerian capital suggest Medane could be in line to be picked as vice-president of the football federation after Rashid Gasmi left the post.

Djamel Belmadi is expected to meet Algeria’s football boss Zetchi Kheireddine over a new man and to replace Hakim as general manager.