Algeria has offered to change the venue and date for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group H qualifier against Zimbabwe.
The match was initially scheduled to be played at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida on March 26 but the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is yet to make a decision on whether the match will go ahead this month.
The North African country is one of the worst-affected countries on the continent by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, with at least 20 confirmed cases.
Addressing Algerian media on Tuesday, Federation of Algerian Football (FAF) communications manager Salah-Bey Aboud said:
We are monitoring the development of the situation closely. Caf has not yet confirmed the game going ahead on March 26, it may be that they have reservations about the place, due to the coronavirus epidemic.
In this case, the match will be rescheduled to the Stade July 5, which is already on the Caf register, as an alternative. It is on the register and Les Verts coach Djamel Belmadi recently visited the venue.
COVID-19 has raised concerns for both The Warriors and the Desert Foxes over the possible absence of their players plying their trade in Europe, Marvelous Nakamba for Zimbabwe and the Algerian duo of Riyad Mahrez and Ismael Bennacer.
Back to top