07 September 2004	Tuesday	21 Rajab 1425

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 6: Algerians are in a state of shock after their national team suffered a humiliating home defeat at the hands of unheralded Gabon on Sunday.

Algeria, who twice reached the World Cup in the 1980s, lost 3-0 at home to the central African nation in a qualifier in Annaba on Sunday that left them bottom of Group Three.

Algeria fell apart after the 43rd minute dismissal of the temperamental Abdelmalek Cherrad, who headbutted a Gabonese defender, and conceded three goals in the second half.

Gabon rejoiced in the first win of their campaign but Algeria's defeat was a far cry from their exploits at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, where they beat West Germany, and the 1986 finals in Mexico where they were one of two African teams.

Coach Robert Wasiege, who led Belgium in the 2000 European Championships and took them to the second round of the 2002 World Cup, was hired in May to engineer Algeria's return to the finals but now faces questions about continuing in the job.

Algeria have been seeking to use more of the growing number of second-generation immigrants born and brought up in Europe, particularly France, and schooled at clubs on the continent. But successive coaches, including former African Footballer of the Year Rabah Madjer, have been unable to mould such talent into the force the north African country once commanded.

"A great disillusion," ran the headline in the daily El Moudjahid on Monday as Algeria's hopes of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup in Germany lie in tatters. Gabon's win was even more remarkable because they were missing five of their key players.

Portuguese-based Henri Antchouet and top scorer Theodore Nzue Nguema were injured and Daniel Cousin of French Ligue 1 club Lens has continued his self-imposed exile from the team.

However, coach Jairzinho, the fabled member of Brazil's World Cup-winning team of 1970, handed a debut to Catalina Aubame, who was once a French junior international and on the books at Italy's AC Milan.

His father Pierre spent decades playing in Europe but is now Gabon's assistant coach. Aubame scored the first goal in a dream debut for the 'Panthers' who can claim a second high-profile scalp when they meet Nigeria in another qualifier at home on October 9.

Algeria's next match in African zone Group Four is away to unfancied Rwanda in Kigali the same day - another potential 'banana-skin' for a once proud foot balling power. -Reuters