Six years before the event, the African Cup of Nations in 2019 is already attracting attention. After Kenya, the Republic of Congo and Zambia, Algeria has just placed itself on the starting list of candidate countries for its organization. Mohamed Rouraoua, the president of the Algerian Football Federation, announced it on December 29 during a press conference at the national technical center of Sidi Moussa, in Algiers: “I have reached an agreement with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mohamed Tahmi, to present Algeria's candidacy for the organization of CAN 2019." Official confirmation has been given to us: an application file will be submitted to the Confederation of African Football (CAF ) in the coming weeks.

Algeria has only hosted the African Cup of Nations once, in 1990, an edition which it won against Nigeria in the final. It could therefore once again be the host of the most prestigious African competitions. And she wants to give herself the means to do so.

Several stadiums are under construction across the country, including two in Algiers, the capital. A vast project which reinforces an already solid file. The budget and existing infrastructure meet the criteria of CAF and FIFA.

The only downside: the 2015 and 2017 editions of the CAN will be played in Morocco and Libya respectively. Awarding three consecutive African Cups of Nations in the same region of the continent is not a common decision. A handicap all the more serious as Algeria's three rivals, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, have never hosted the competition.