Algeria Want to Replace Guinea as 2025 Cup of Nations Hosts

A general view shows an empty street in Algiers, Algeria March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Ramzi Boudina
A general view shows an empty street in Algiers, Algeria March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Ramzi Boudina
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Algeria Want to Replace Guinea as 2025 Cup of Nations Hosts

A general view shows an empty street in Algiers, Algeria March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Ramzi Boudina
A general view shows an empty street in Algiers, Algeria March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Ramzi Boudina

Algeria football boss Zefizef Djahid said on Saturday his country will bid to stage the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after original choice Guinea were stripped of the hosting rights.

Speaking during the African Nations Championship (CHAN) draw ceremony at an Algiers opera house, he announced that "Algeria will be candidates to host the 2025 AFCON".

On Saturday, Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe said Guinea would not host the 2025 edition because they were "not ready to do so".

The west African country, one of the poorest in the continent, has currently only one international-standard stadium, and Cup of Nations require six.

Launched in 1957 in Sudan as a three-country event, the Cup of Nations has gradually increased to 24 teams from the 2019 finals in Egypt.

Talking at a press conference in the Algerian capital ahead of the CHAN draw, South African billionaire Motsepe said "about 10 countries" are interested in replacing Guinea.

"What I can assure you is that we are not going to choose a country that is not at an adequate level to meet our quality standards."

Motsepe did not name the potential bidders, but AFP understands former hosts Morocco, Nigeria and Senegal could be among the interested countries.

"I can assure you that there is no country in Africa that is going to be favored," stressed Motsepe, seemingly referring to criticism that is he pro-Morocco.

The CAF boss recently told AFP that "the only reason Morocco has been hosting CAF competitions is because they are the only country prepared to do so.

"Our bidding process is open to all 54 member nations and sometimes we stretch the deadline to encourage multiple candidates, but only Morocco deliver a formal bid."

Morocco boasts world-class facilities and infrastructure and recently staged a hugely successful Africa Women's Cup of Nations, with 40,000-plus crowds attending some matches.

Later this year the kingdom will host the eight-club CAF Women's Champions League and, next year, the men's qualifying tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

A Moroccan official reportedly said his country "would consider" a bid to stage the premier African football tournament for the first time since 1988.

Outgoing Nigerian football boss Amaju Pinnick recently suggested his nation and neighbors Benin should make a joint bid.

Nigeria staged and won the Cup of Nations in 1980 and finished runners-up when they co-hosted the 2000 edition with Ghana.

Algeria were another country to host and win the Cup of Nations, defeating Nigeria in the 1990 final. Senegal were the 1992 hosts.

Cameroon hosted the last Cup of Nations this year and the Ivory Coast are next in line with the finals set for January and February 2024.



Messi and Miami Held by New York City in MLS Opener

Lionel Messi - File/AFP
Lionel Messi - File/AFP
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Messi and Miami Held by New York City in MLS Opener

Lionel Messi - File/AFP
Lionel Messi - File/AFP

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami stumbled out of the blocks with a 2-2 home draw against New York City FC in the opening round of the new Major League Soccer season on Saturday.

Miami, who broke the regular season points record last year before crashing out in the first round of the playoffs, played the bulk of the match with 10 men after Argentine defender Tomas Aviles was sent off.

Messi provided the assists for both Miami's goals including the leveler which came in the 10th minute of stoppage time, AFP reported.

With new head coach Javier Mascherano in charge for the first time in MLS, having replaced fellow Argentine Gerardo Martino, Miami featured several new faces but looked disjointed and lacking shape for most of the encounter.

The night began perfectly for Miami who took the lead in the fifth minute after Messi played a corner deep to Jordi Alba who returned a pinpoint diagonal pass which the World Cup winner slipped across to Aviles who slotted home.

But then things started to go wrong for the MLS Cup favourites.

One of the off-season arrivals, forward Fafa Picault, had to go off in the 10th minute after going down with what appeared to be a muscle injury.

Then, 13 minutes later, the momentum of the game shifted significantly towards New York when Aviles brought down Alonso Martinez on the edge of the box and received a straight red card.

From the free-kick Maxi Moralez took advantage of the disorganisation in the Miami defence -- slipping a pass to the unmarked Slovenian Mitja Ilenic who fired into the bottom corner.

Miami with a makeshift, inexperienced central defensive pairing of Noah Allen and Ian Fray, struggled to get a grip on the game although substitute Robert Taylor forced City keeper Matt Freese into a fine save at the end of the half.

New York could sense there was the chance for an upset but they could barely believe their luck when they were gifted the lead by Alba in the 55th minute.

The former Spain and Barcelona left-back passed straight to New York forward Martinez who gleefully accepted the gift and burst goalwards before slotting past Oscar Ustari.

Messi was getting little in the way of quality service and next to no support from the largely ineffective Luis Suarez who was substituted four minutes after the goal.

Freese kept out a Messi free-kick and Alba found Federico Redondo with a fine pull-back but the midfielder side-footed wide.

But in the 10th minute of stoppage time Messi provided the touch of class Miami needed - slipping a perfectly weighted pass through to Telasco Segovia and the Venezuelan provided a deft finish to lift the ball over Freese for the equaliser.