Algeria’s CAN Hopes Dashed Amid Fallout from Ebossé Tragedy
Algeria’s ambitions to host the 2019 or 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) have suffered a significant blow, with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarding the tournaments to Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire, respectively.
The decision left Algerian officials disappointed, particularly in light of the country’s strong technical bid. However, the tragic death of Cameroonian striker Albert Ebossé, who died after being struck by a projectile during a league match with JS Kabylie, appears to have weighed heavily in CAF’s considerations.
“We had probably the best file from a technical perspective,” said Algerian Sports Minister Mohamed Tahmi. “But the image of Algerian football has suffered in recent times, and that influenced the decision-making process.”
The Algerian delegation returned from Addis Ababa with “sorrow in their souls,” after the CAF executive meeting that awarded hosting rights. While Algeria remains interested in hosting a future tournament and is expected to submit a bid for the now-vacant 2017 edition, Minister Tahmi cautioned that internal reform must come first.
“Before talking about a new candidacy, we must clean up Algerian football,” he said. “If we want a future on the international stage, we must face our problems and resolve them.”
Ebossé, who played for Cameroonian club JS Kabylie in the Algerian top flight, died last month after being hit by an object thrown from the stands following a match against USM Alger. In the aftermath, JSK was handed a two-year ban from continental competitions.
