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After a first day marked by the absence of the defending champion, Morocco and popular enthusiasm, Farid Ait Saada, coordinator of the local organizing committee of CHAN, talks regarding the lessons of the organization and the first satisfactions.
Comments collected by our special correspondent in Oran,
RFI: The first day of CHAN has just ended. We played in all stadiums and in all cities. What lessons can we draw from these first days of the CHAN organized by Algeria?
Farid Ait Saada: The first lessons are that the stadiums and training centers are all functional. The matches all took place in good conditions. Some, with the presence of a large audience. Which is surprising because we expected a big crowd when it comes to the Algerian team, but in Annaba and Constantine, there was a big crowd when the Fennecs were not playing. It was nice to see this beautiful audience, there was respect for the opponents and respect for the participants.
Of course, we deplore the withdrawal of a team [le Maroc, NDLR] who did not move, otherwise the party would have been total. I also note the enthusiasm of the Algerian public, of the Algerian street for this event. It is said that the CHAN is not at the level of the CAN, but still, this competition is gaining momentum.
You talk regarding the enthusiasm of the Algerian public which is present even when the selection is not playing. Is this simply due to the Algerian passion? Or is it also the CHAN organization that has ensured that the Algerians appropriate this competition which is played at home?
Algerians are already football fanatics. But, we must not forget that the CHAN is a competition reserved for local players. And the Algerians follow the local championship a lot, they follow African club competitions, so they know players who play in these teams. Secondly, the conditions for following the matches are met: there is transport provided for the supporters, the stadiums are in very good condition with seats, and not bleachers as before, with a certain comfort.
The third reason: the Algerians firmly believe that they might soon host an African Cup of Nations. And for them, the chances of Algeria would be doubled or even multiplied if the CHAN succeeded. These are all reasons that have contributed to this popular success, relative until now, but which might increase, especially if Algeria passes the rounds and tries to conquer this title which is missing from the Algerian football charts.
Precisely, can we consider that the CHAN is a kind of seduction operation in order to obtain the organization of the CAN 2025?
It is clear that the granting of the organization of the CAN 2025 will not be played on a single competition. There are several criteria, but it is true that the success of CHAN would strengthen Algeria’s candidacy. There are facilities that are there, there is a competition that was organized in good conditions, so already 70% of the way has been done. It remains 30% because the specifications for the CAN is a little higher than that of the CHAN. So there are certain infrastructures to be completed or built. A good CHAN would help strengthen the Algerian file, especially since the announcement of the host country of CAN 2025 will be made six days following the final.
You mentioned it, there is a notable absentee, Morocco, but there is still the Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o who is there, and following all that has happened passed between the two countrieswe can say that it is one of the great satisfactions of this beginning of CHAN?
Yes, but there was never any tension, even for the crisis, in quotes, concerning the Algeria-Cameroon qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup. It was blame made on the referee and not on Cameroon , nor to Samuel Eto’o. Afterwards, there are supporters who ignite, verbal slip-ups, etc. But it is the fact of supporters. It’s not the Algerian state, it’s not the Federation, it’s not the Algerian coach. So, it’s just an excess of zeal from some but overall, Cameroon has never been insulted or abused by the Algerians. I’m speaking officially, so for me it’s a fair return. There was a lot of ado regarding nothing.
Now, we have to see the future, there are other deadlines that await the two teams. These two teams will certainly meet once more in other circumstances. We must turn the page and only the truth on the ground will prevail.
CHAN 2023 in Algeria: Schedule and results
