The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has issued a warning to Algeria’s national team coach, Djamel Belmadi, cautioning him against approaching the “Al Salam” Stadium in Bouaké.
The stadium is set to host the national team’s match against Angola on Monday, marking the first round of Group Four encounters.
The continental football body criticized Belmadi for his frequent visits to the Al Salam Stadium for inspection.
It is noteworthy that the stadium is just steps away from the national team’s residence in the city of Bouaké, where Group Four matches of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations are taking place in Côte d’Ivoire.
According to reports from Al-Araby Al-Jadeed’s correspondent in Bouaké on Saturday, CAF has stipulated that the Algerian coach must obtain official permission in advance before entering the stadium for inspection.
Belmadi attaches great importance to the stadium’s readiness, fearing a repetition of the scenario from the previous tournament in Cameroon.
In that instance, the Algerian national team played its three matches against Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, and Ivory Coast at the “Japoma” Stadium.
Despite its modern appearance, the pitch at Japoma became a concern for Coach Belmadi.
The warning from CAF underscores the organization’s commitment to maintaining fairness and ensuring that teams adhere to established protocols during the Africa Cup of Nations.
It remains to be seen how Belmadi and the Algerian team will navigate these restrictions as they prepare for a crucial fixture against Angola.
