[ 08 April 2015 03:24 ]
Baku-APA. Algeria awaits to know whether to be selected to host 2017 African Cup of Nations, as the verdict is to be pronounced on Wednesday during the meeting of the Confederation of African Football (CAN) in Egypt's Cairo, APA reports quoting Xinhua.
Both Algerian Sport Minister and Head of Football Federation ( FAF) rushed to Cairo to defend the north African nation's chances to win the organization of the African Cup of Nations due in January 2017.
The 2017 CAN is one of the government priorities, and seen as the right opportunity to mark the return of the nation to the African showcase, following an absence of 25 years. The first and last time Algeria organized the African Cup of Nations dates back to 1990, and it was the first and last time the Greens won the continental trophy.
The large 5 July stadium in upper Algiers endures renovation works, and due to be reopened as by 2016. The capital Algiers counts two other new big stadiums, which are due also to be received next year too. The western province Oran and the eastern province Annaba, would host some of the 20A7 CAN games, in case Algeria wins the bid, as they both dispose of two large and modern stadiums.
However, a couple of elements may affect the chances of the north African state to win the bid.
Crowd hooligans and violent acts that were reported in Algerian stadiums could jeopardize the bid of this north African nation.
A Cameroonian player was killed at the end of a game in the local league, last year. Albert Ebosse, a player of JS Kabylie, was killed after been hit by projectile thrown from the stands of Tizi Ouzou stadium, during the second day of the local league game against USM Alger.
This tragic event urged CAF to ban JS Kabylie from continental competitions for two years. The ban was recently lifted.
The personal implicit conflict between CAF chairman, Aissa Hayatou, an Algeria's FAF president, Mohamed Raouraoua would affect the decision of the CAF, some say. Rafik Ouahid, a sport expert told Xinhua that "Issa Hyatou is mad at Raouroua after the later decided not to run for a second term as a member at the Executive Commission at the FIFA, telling to his entourage that he seek to run for the presidency of the CAF."
"Hayatou now sees Raouraoua as a potential rival, rather than an ally," he assumed.
Algeria failed to win bids of hosting CAN 2021 and 2023. Rafik Ouahid says that the failure was understood as "revenge" by Hayatou against Raouroua.
Later on, Algerian Prime Minister, Abdelkader Sellal, made sure to hold a head-to-head meeting with Hayatou, on the margins of the African Super Cup, held on Feb. 21 in Blida Stadium, between winner of the Champions League, Algerian ES Setif, and winner of the CAF Confederation Cup, Ahly of Egypt. After a 1-1 draw, ES Setif won 6-5 on penalties.
Local media at that time reported that Sellal managed to ease the tension between Hayatou and Raouraoua. For his part, Sport Minister, Mohamed Tahmi told reporters that there is no conflict between Raouraoua and Hayatou, but rather "misunderstanding."
The name of the host country of 2017 CAN is due to be revealed on Wednesday in Cairo, Egypt, during a meeting of the Executive Bureau of CAF. The ceremony of the qualifying draw for 2017 CAN competition will be also on the agenda of the meeting.
