Algeria’s Crumbling Stadium Forces Players to Change on the Pitch

Fez – Burkina Faso’s national football team was captured changing their clothes on the edge of the pitch prior to their important match against Algeria on November 16. The match in Blida, Algeria was part of Qatar World Cup Qualifiers, yet the match was marred by the poor state of the stadium.

Burkina Faso’s national team players refused to use the stadium’s dressing rooms, with a Burkinabe official citing the “bad state” of both the pitch and the dressing rooms at Mustapha-Tchaker stadium, forcing the Stallions to get dressed directly on the pitch.

“Countries that can’t host national teams should play elsewhere,” the official stated

Despite the devastating conditions of the crumbling stadium, the match ended in a draw, with two goals each after a strong performance of the Burkina Faso Stallions.

Algeria’s dilapidated stadium has been subject to much criticism even by Algerian players.

Players of the national football team denounced the decrepit state of the stadium after Algeria’s game against Niger that took place in the same stadium on October 8.

In a press conference after the game, Riyad Mahrez, Manchester City’s player, stated that he “cannot understand how a national football team such as ours with all that we have achieved, play in such a dilapidated stadium. This is ununderstandable”.

The Citizens’ player added that the TV broadcast doesn’t show the deteriorated state of the stadium in parallel to the players who practice on its pitch, declaring that the stadium cannot host a football game.

In the same event, Olympique Lyonnais player Islam Slimani also deplored the devastating condition of Algeria’s stadiums, stating that “it is a shame that a country such as Algeria possesses such stadiums,” describing the situation as” catastrophic.”

The Algerian football team paid a visit to Morocco, on September 7, for their World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso which was held at Marrakech’s “Grand Stadium”.

The Algerian delegation received a warm welcome by royal Moroccan football federation (FRMF) officials. Djamel Belmadi. Algeria’s football team coach stated in a press release before the game, that the Marrakech stadium possessed a high-quality pitch that would allow the Algerian players to deliver a good performance.

The crumbling state of Algeria’s stadiums has raised many concerns throughout the past years, making Algerian athletes question the country’s ability to host future national and international events.