Tag: Algeria

FIFA has turned down Algeria's request to have Worldcup play-off against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon replayed, saying it is now case closed. Algeria won the first leg of the play-off 1-0 in March but lost the return leg 2-1 at home after extra time to miss out on one of the five berths at the finals for African nations. “FIFA can confirm that the Algerian Football Federation submitted a complaint to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee in relation to the FIFA World Cup qualifier Algeria vs Cameroon played on 29 March 2022, and subsequently FAF also requested to have FIFA’s Referee Committee feedback,” a FIFA spokesperson told AFP on Saturday. The committee reports states that “all the incidents that occurred during the match were carefully examined by the two video referees, in accordance with the Laws of the Game and the protocol of video assistance to the referee”. After 90 minutes in Blida, Cameroon led 1-0. In the 28th minute of extra time, Ahmed Touba scored a goal that would have put Algeria through, but Karl Toko Ekambi replied in the fourth minute of added time at the end of extra time. The Algerian federation said the refereeing of the second leg by Gambian Bakary Gassama was “scandalous”. Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi repeatedly blasted the refereeing in the match and in Africa in general.