Rafik Saïfi
Rafik Saïfi | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 7, 1975 Algeria |
| Occupation | Professional footballer (former) |
| Years active | 1990s–2010s |
| Known for | Forward, attacking midfielder for Algerian national team and various clubs |
Rafik Saïfi (; born 7 February 1975) is a former Algerian professional footballer who operated primarily as a forward or an attacking midfielder.
Club career
Saïfi's football journey started at CM Bordj El Kifane, where he quickly gained recognition as a prolific scorer by the age of 17. He subsequently played for smaller teams such as IRB Sougueur and IB Khémis El Khechna before joining his hometown club, MC Alger. At MC Alger, he played a key role in securing the Algerian league championship. In 1999, at 24 years old, Saïfi moved to France to join Troyes AC, spending five seasons with the club, including the 2003–04 campaign following their drop to Ligue 2.
In 2004, he signed with newly promoted FC Istres in Ligue 1, making 35 appearances before the team was relegated. The next year, Saïfi transferred to another promoted side, AC Ajaccio, where he experienced his third relegation within four years.
In 2006, Saïfi joined FC Lorient, also recently promoted, and began the 2007–08 season impressively by netting four goals in as many matches.
Al Khor
On 9 August 2009, Saïfi secured a one-year deal with Al-Khor, with the club paying €500,000 to FC Lorient for his transfer. He marked his league debut for Al-Khor by scoring against Al-Gharafa on 12 September 2009, and later added another goal on 22 October facing Al-Kharitiyath.
Istres
On 23 January 2010, Saïfi was loaned to Ligue 2 outfit FC Istres until the end of that season, with the transfer completed on 2 February 2010. Subsequently, on 4 November 2010, he signed a contract with Amiens SC.
International career
Saïfi made his debut for the Algerian national team on 5 June 1998 during a friendly match against Bulgaria, coming on as a substitute. His first goal for Algeria came on 28 February 1999 in a qualifier for the 2000 African Cup of Nations against Liberia, followed by another goal in the second leg.
He took part in the 2000 African Cup of Nations under coach Nasser Sandjak, featuring in group stage matches and the quarter-final clash with Cameroon. At the 2002 African Cup of Nations held in Mali, Saïfi appeared in all three group matches and was named among the tournament's best eleven despite Algeria's early exit.
Under manager Rabah Saadane, Saïfi was selected for the squad at the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola. He started Algeria’s opening match against Malawi and came off the bench in their second game versus Mali. After participating in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, he announced his retirement from international duty.
Assault incident
Following Algeria’s disappointing performance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup—where they failed to progress beyond the group phase and faced widespread criticism domestically—Saïfi became involved in a contentious incident after the USA-Algeria match. He was engaged in a confrontation with journalist Asma Halimi, who had criticized him in her writing. The altercation escalated when Saïfi struck Halimi, prompting her to retaliate by hitting him back and causing an injury to his lip. Halimi declared her intention to file complaints with both FIFA and the Algerian Football Federation.
International
| National team | Year | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 1998 | 3 | 0 |
| 1999 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2000 | 10 | 4 | |
| 2001 | 5 | 3 | |
| 2002 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2006 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2008 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2009 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2010 | 7 | 0 | |
| Overall total | 64 | 18 | |
- The score column lists Algeria's goals first; the score shown reflects the state immediately after each goal by Saïfi.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score after goal | Final result | Tournament | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 February 1999 | Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, Monrovia, Liberia | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2000 African Cup of Nations qualification | ||||||||||||
| 2 | 9 April 1999 | Stade 19 Mai 1956, Annaba, Algeria | 3–0 | 4–1 | 2000 African Cup of Nations qualification | ||||||||||||
| 3 | 3 June 2000 | Stade 19 Mai 1956, Annaba, Algeria | 1–0 | 4–0 | Friendly match | ||||||||||||
| 4 | 2–0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 16 June 2000 | Stade 19 Mai 1956, Annaba, Algeria | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||||||||
| 6 | 11 October 2000 | Stade 19 Mai 1956, Annaba, Algeria | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||||||||
| 7 | 1 June 2001 | Stade 19 Mai 1956, Annaba, Algeria | 1–0 | 3–2
(Algeria win) |
2002 African Cup of Nations qualification |
- 8 2–1 |
- 9 6 December 2001 Stade 5 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria 1–1 1–1 Friendly match |
- 10 rowspan= "2" |9 February 2005 rowspan= "2" |Stade 5 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria rowspan= "2" | 1–0 rowspan= "2" |3–0 rowspan= "2" |Friendly match |
- 11 2–0 |
- 12 11 November 2006 Luynes, Aix-en-Provence, France 1–2 1–2 Friendly match |
- 13 7 February 2007 Stade 5 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria 1–1 2–1 Friendly match |
- 14 2 June 2007 Estádio da Várzea, Praia, Cape Verde 2–1 2–2 2008 African Cup of Nations qualification |
- 15 9 September 2007 Independence Stadium (Bakau), Bakau, Gambia 1–0 1–2 2008 African Cup of Nations qualification |
- 16 5 September 2008 Stade Mustapha Tchaker, Blida, Algeria 2–1 3–2 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF) |
- 17 20 June 2009 Independence Stadium (Zambia), Chililabombwe, Zambia 2–0 2–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF) |
- 18 6 September 2009 Stade Mustapha Tchaker, Blida, Algeria 1–0 1–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF) } HonoursMC Alger
Troyes
Amiens
Individual accolades
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