Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi has agreed to stand down after they were eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations finals on Tuesday, the country’s football federation said on Wednesday.
Algeria’s shock 1-0 loss to Mauritania on Tuesday meant the 2019 winners finished bottom of Group D.
Algeria were also knocked out of the 2021 finals at the group stage.
“I met with Djamel and we reached an amicable agreement to dissolve the association,” Walid Sadi, president of Algeria’s football federation, said.
We thank Djamel for everything he did for the team and wish him good luck in the rest of his career.”
Sadi added their tournament had ended with “a bitter exit” in a series of messages posted on X.
“We apologise to the fans of the national team and the Algerian people after we worked hard and provided ideal conditions for our players to shine,” he added.
Belmadi, 47, took over as coach of the Desert Foxes in August 2018 and signed a contract extension a year ago to remain in the post until 2026.
Born in Paris, Belmadi captained Algeria at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations and, as coach, he guided his country to the Afcon title in 2019 in Egypt amid a 35-match unbeaten run which set an African record.
But their defence of the trophy in Cameroon two years ago was short-lived, with the North Africans drawing against Sierra Leone and losing to Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast as they finished bottom of their group.
Just three months later Algeria also failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, losing on away goals in a play-off against Cameroon after conceding a last-gasp goal in the second leg at home.
But Belmadi stayed on and Les Verts had the best record of any team in qualifying for the 2023 finals.
However, after draws with Angola and Burkina Faso, several of their players left the field in tears after the defeat by Mauritania.
Sadi said there would be “a real revolution” to restore Algeria’s position “continentally and internationally”.
We promise to correct the mistakes of the past with one goal: to put the train back on track, and to renew the days of brilliance and victories for Algerian football,” he added.
Belmadi is the fourth coaching casualty in 24 hours at the tournament in the Ivory Coast, following the resignation of Tom Saintfiet of Gambia and the sackings of Chris Hughton (Ghana) and Jean-Louis Gasset from the home team.
