Today, Thursday, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune supervised the official and symbolic inauguration of the "Nelson Mandela" stadium in the Algerian capital, which will host 6 matches in the African Nations Championship for local football players, which will start tomorrow, Friday, and will continue until February 4, including the two matches. Introductory and final.
Tebboune, who was accompanied by the grandson of the African leader, Chef Zoulifululel Mandela, unveiled the monument bearing the name of Nelson Mandela, at the entrance to the stadium, before the Swiss Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, and Patrice Motsepe, President of the International Federation of Football Associations, joined them. The African Union "CAF" and the Algerian Minister of Youth and Sports, Abdel Razzak Sabkak, to take a group photo for the memory.
The President of the Republic 🇩🇿 inaugurates the Nelson Mandela Stadium in the presence of the President of FIFA, the President of CAF and the grandson of Nelson Mandela 💚🇩🇿❤️ pic.twitter.com/aaMSLvUOJt
- Alpasino👊😎👊 (@Alpasino6) January 12, 2023
The seventh edition of the African Nations Championship for local players will take place tomorrow, Friday, with a confrontation between the Algerian national team and its Libyan counterpart at the “Nelson Mandela” stadium, which will host all the first group matches, a quarter-final match, a semi-final match, and the final match.
live|
The new #Nelson_Mandela stadium, shortly before its inauguration by the President of the Republic, Abdel Majeed #Teboune pic.twitter.com/rhxPCapyG5
— Oras |
Awras (@AwrasMedia) January 12, 2023
Algeria is ready for the African Championship
On the other hand, Majid Bougherra, coach of the Algerian national team, considered the African Championship for locals an opportunity to make families and children happy in the stands, in addition to highlighting the talents of players wishing to become professional abroad.
The tournament will be a great opportunity for Algeria to achieve the title among its fans for the first time, especially in the absence of Morocco, the champion of the last two editions.
"We are ready for the tournament, which will be successful with an intense presence of the fans," Bougherra said, during a press conference. "Welcome everyone, and all the players are also fully prepared."
⚽⚽ #Bougherra: We are 100% ready to face #Libya #Algeria #Al-Nahar #Sport #Football #Local_Team #Local_Players #Hello #Hello_Africa #Algeria_Libya #Chan #Algerie #EnnaharSport #LesVerts #Teamdz #123vivalAlgérie #LesFennecs #Bouguerra #LocalTe22am #CHAN202am Marhaba pic.twitter.com/URQOdGf2XN
- Ennahar TV Al-Nahar (@ennaharonline) January 12, 2023
Algeria, in the absence of its professional stars in Europe, won the 2021 Arab Cup, led by Bougherra, amid a wonderful public presence in Qatar, and the coach expects a similar pleasant atmosphere in his country.
The Algerian coach added, "We are excited to play among our supporters. The stadium will definitely be full tomorrow, and we look forward to doing our best, especially after the recovery of all the injured, including Islam Bakir."
Bougherra continued, "Watching families and children in the stands is wonderful for us, and these competitions encourage them to love football. My son did not like football before the Arab Cup, but after that he fell in love with it."
And the former Scottish Rangers defender continued, "This tournament is also an opportunity for local African talents to highlight their capabilities, with the presence of many transfer agents."
The first group also includes Mozambique and Ethiopia.
🎥 Watch |
In Algeria 🇩🇿 the last logistical and technical touches are being put in place ahead of the start of the African Nations Championship for local players on the 13th of this month
🎙️ Report |
Hussein Bu Saleh pic.twitter.com/jkDRWQis25
- beIN SPORTS news (@beINSPORTSNews) January 11, 2023
Defender and captain Ayoub Abdel Lawy called on the fans to be patient until the national team reaches its best levels in the tournament.
He said, "We are ready psychologically and from all other aspects. We will play in front of 40,000 fans, and this urges us to play fiercely, but also with focus. I ask the fans to support us while being patient with us until we reach our best levels."