Algeria, eager to clinch another championship, finds itself amidst an unusual incident during their preparations. The Fennecs, under the leadership of coach Djamel Belmadi, are gearing up to face Angola, Burkina Faso, and Mauritania in Group D when the tournament kicks off on Saturday, January 13.
However, an unexpected and unsettling occurrence marked the initial training sessions of the Algerian selection in Ivory Coast.
Reports from the scene reveal that the team was subjected to surveillance by an unidentified drone.
The Algerian Football Federation, having declared the training session as closed and private, was taken aback to discover an aerial intruder hovering over the training ground.
Prompt action ensued as local law enforcement intervened swiftly, leading to the apprehension of an individual of Ivorian nationality suspected to be operating the drone.
Authorities seized the memory card from the surveillance device for further investigation.
The motives behind this apparent attempt to gather intelligence on the Algerian team remain unclear.
The Federation Algerienne de Football (FAF), responsible for the Algerian national team, has not issued an official statement in response to this incident as of now.
The unexpected and intrusive drone surveillance adds a layer of intrigue and concern to Algeria’s pre-tournament preparations.
The AFCON is renowned for its intensity and unpredictability on the field, but off the pitch, the unexpected surveillance incident raises questions about the security and privacy of participating teams as they vie for continental glory.
