Algerian coach Rabah Saadane addressed a press conference on Tuesday ahead of Algeria's crucial World Cup match against the Gambia on Friday and had words of respect for the visitors.

The press conference took place at the Algerian team hotel - Hilton - just as the Gambian Scorpions touched down in Algiers buoyed by their 1-0 victory over the former African champions in Banjul last Saturday.

The Algeria coach began the press conference by looking briefly back to the Banjul game and admitted that the Gambia has made huge strides in football.

"The Gambia has made big progress in football," Saadane said, "and are therefore now a highly respectable team."

On his team's loss to the Scorpions a week ago, the Algerian blamed a combination of weather conditions and a questionable penalty decision by the match officials.

"The referee was wrong to award the penalty and high humidity also meant that our team could not play its usual game in Banjul."

Looking ahead to Friday's game, Saadane said, "We have to win. I would even say that we have to do everything possible to finish as group winners."

Algeria will have two key players back for their home game against the Gambia.

Defender Nadir Belhadj returns from a one-match suspension after picking up two yellow cards against Senegal and Liberia and influential play-maker Rafik Saifi has recovered from the injury that kept him out of last Saturday's game in Banjul.

Courtesy of Gambiasports.gm