Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi has come to the defence of his under-fire striker Baghdad Bounedjah, claiming he is ‘one of the top scorers in the world’.
The Al Sadd forward registered 39 goals in only 22 league games for his Qatari club in the 2018/19 season, but is yet to replicate his mind-boggling goalscoring performances at his club with the Desert Foxes in the competition.
The striker has only managed to score once for Algeria in the tournament, against Kenya in their opening game.
He had a chance to help his side claim victory in regular time against Ivory Coast but missed his spot-kick before the Desert Foxes edged past the Elephants in a penalty shoot-out.