2015 AFRICA CUP - ALGERIA - Captain Bougherra bows out after exit

AFRICA CUP 2015 GROUP C Quarter-Finals

The Desert Foxes skipper bid farewell to the national team following the 3:1 quarter-final defeat to Ivory Coast in Malabo.

"It's a different life for me now," said the 33-year-old defender.

"Of course you can never say 'I'll never play again' for the national team but in my mind I think it's over. "

Bougherra made his debut for Algeria in 2004 and played at the last two World Cups and at two Nations Cups.

"It's been 11 years and I think the team is ready to be without me.

They have experience.

"This team is very young.

They have good quality players and I hope that in the next Cup of Nations they are going to win it.

"With coach Christian Gourcuff, we have a future in my view," added Bougherra after winning his 70th cap.

"This team is young with an average age of 23-24 years and it will return for many Nations Cups in the future."

Formerly on the books of home town club Gueugnon and later Rangers in Scotland, the France-born defender now plays for Foujairah in the United Arab Emirates.