The Algerian national team will not play its first match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Algiers.
The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has decided to relocate the game due to the presidential election on September 7, with the match originally scheduled for September 5.
Initially planned for the Tchaker Stadium in Blida, this venue was ruled out after an inspection revealed that the locker rooms needed renovations. Although the pitch is in perfect condition, ongoing renovation work at Tchaker prevents hosting the match there.
Pending a final decision, two options are being considered: the stadium in Annaba, which features a hybrid turf (part synthetic, part natural), and the recently used stadium in Oran.
Coach Petkovic will have a say and must evaluate the pros and cons of each option, particularly regarding training conditions for the Algerian team. The upcoming matches, especially against Equatorial Guinea, must be well-prepared to avoid pitfalls and begin the campaign with a victory.
It’s worth noting that for the September gathering, Vladimir Petkovic’s national team will face Equatorial Guinea on September 5, followed by a match against Liberia on the 10th of the same month.
Leave a Reply