Halilhodzic Laments Djabou’s Wasted Potential, Believes He Could Have Achieved More

The career of Abdelmoumene Djabou, a player he once trusted with a crucial role, has caused former Algeria national team coach Vahid Halilhodzic to express remorse.

Djabou, who starred for ES Sétif and Club Africain, showed glimpses of brilliance, especially during the 2014 World Cup. He scored two goals and played ahead of Riyad Mahrez in Algeria’s historic campaign, which saw them reach the Round of 16 for the first time.

Halilhodzic’s Candid Assessment

Speaking to Goal France, Halilhodzic praised Djabou’s natural ability but criticized his mentality:

“Djabou had extraordinary talent, the best technically. But he had the mindset of an amateur. He never truly trained in his life.”

Despite his technical brilliance, Djabou never fulfilled his full potential. After the 2015 AFCON, he was sidelined from the national team, making his final Algeria appearance in 2017.

A Career That Could Have Been Bigger

Djabou played in Tunisia and Saudi Arabia after a brief stint in Europe with Sion (Switzerland). In August 2023, he retired from ES Sétif after his return.

Djabou is one of Algeria's biggest "what if" stories since many people think his international career didn't match his talent, as evidenced by his meager 13 caps and 3 goals.