Algeria boss highlights Bafana 'gifts'

Algeria boss Vladimir Petkovic has highlighted the "gifts" South Africa received i n their exciting 3-3 draw on Tuesday night. 

The Desert Foxes and Bafana Bafana competed in the FIFA Series International Friendlies Pilot Project that ran from 18 March to 26 March, playing two matches during that period. 

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The Algeria beat Bolivia 3-2 in their first game, while Bafana drew 1-1 with Andorra, before they faced one another in what was an enthralling encounter packed with goals at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Baraki, Algiers, on Tuesday. 

Yassine Benzia stole the spotlight with his second goal on the night, while Yacine Brahimi also got on the scoresheet for the hosts in what was Petkovic's second game at the Algeria helm since being appointed last month. 

After the 3-3 draw with Bafana, the Swiss tactician praised his new attack, which managed to score six goals in two games, but also admitted that the team's defensive frailties must be worked on. 

"I am generally satisfied with my start with the Algerian national team, and the general outcome of a 10-day internship that included two preparatory interviews," he said, per Echorouk Online. 

"We committed grave defensive mistakes, and others resulting from a lack of concentration, which require correcting them later, and not repeating the mistakes of giving 'gifts' to competitors.

"The attacking line was as good as I expected, as evidenced by the abundance of goalscoring and scoring on six occasions during two matches.

"All the players who were invited worked hard to prove that they were worthy of wearing the national colours, and tried to give their best."

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