Coach Vladimir Petković confirmed today, Monday, that the upcoming match for the Algerian national team is a decisive knockout game, emphasizing the necessity of securing a victory in order to continue in the tournament.

During the press conference, Petković said: "We are facing an elimination match, and we must win it because our goal is to stay in this tournament."

The coach of the "Greens" added that the team will face a strong opponent with various tactical solutions and approaches in their style of play, explaining: "We will face a tough opponent with a diverse style, but we must impose our way on the field."

He emphasized the importance of the mental aspect, saying: "We must believe in ourselves and enter the next match with full confidence in order to achieve victory."

Speaking about the young duo, Petković confirmed that Haj Moussa and Mazza represent an important addition to the future of Algerian football, saying: "Haj Moussa and Mazza will be an important part of Algerian football."

He continued: "We have a squad of 28 competitive players, most of whom play for European and international clubs and deliver outstanding performances."

The coach explained that Mazza and Haj Moussa's participation in the Africa Cup of Nations is their first, adding: "They are taking part in the African tournament for the first time, and they need to learn a lot from it because they represent the future of the Algerian national team."

Regarding the Democratic Republic of Congo national team, Petković expressed great respect for the opponent, saying: "The Democratic Republic of Congo team is well-organized and clearly physically strong."

He concluded his statements by saying: "We have closely followed their matches, and they are used to facing strong opponents. They put in great effort throughout the full ninety minutes, but they have weaknesses that we will try to exploit, provided that we maintain the highest levels of focus and confidence."