CAN 2022: Japoma, the lawn of discord in Douala
The Algerians (in white) suffered on the lawn of the Japoma stadium in Douala against Equatorial Guinea.
© Pierre René-Worns
Text by: Ndiasse Sambe Follow
2 mins
The state of the pitch at the Japoma stadium in Douala is a source of tension on the eve of the Côte d'Ivoire-Algeria and Mali-Mauritania matches this Thursday, January 20, in the first round of CAN 2022.
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It is certainly a rumor, but which does not come from nowhere and which has the gift of exacerbating tensions, especially among the players around the Côte d'Ivoire-Algeria match. A rumor which evoked a possible relocation of the Côte d'Ivoire-Algeria match, decisive, because the lawn of the Japoma stadium is not in a condition to serve as a field of expression for this clash.
A certainty, it is not necessary to be a gardener to see that the lawn was in a catastrophic state during the meeting
Algeria-Equatorial Guinea (0-1)
, which would explain for many observers, in particular Algerian journalists , the backhand of the Fennecs. On the other hand, there was never any question of relocating this meeting and evoking this question / rumor in a press conference had the gift of stretching the media officer of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). “
We are talking about match information, not rumours
,” he warns.
The coach of Algeria, Djamel Belmadi, did not wish to add a layer.
"
I never asked for anything,
" he says, responding to the relocation rumor
.
I have my opinion and everyone has seen the state of the pitch.
We will have to deal with it
”.
“There is a part of the pitch that is a disaster
”
His colleague, Patrice Beaumelle, had spoken of "
a decent lawn, not fantastic
", after the first game for Côte d'Ivoire.
On Thursday, he added: "
Obviously the more you play it, the worse it gets.
There is a part of the ground which is a disaster
”.
The Malians, housed in Limbé since the start of the competition, will discover the pitch of Japoma.
They don't seem to be apprehensive.
“
The pitch is extremely important for us football players.
We dream of playing on a beautiful lawn.
It's an important factor
,” said coach Mohamed Magassouba.
“
We are professionals, we have to adapt as best as possible to be able to develop our football
,” adds captain Hamari Traoré.
Not sure that the Japoma lawn is the ideal ground.
And not sure that the question of the lawn of Douala does not resurface after Thursday's matches.
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