Match between Algeria and Cameroon at risk of cancellation due to threat of Boko Haram
A state of anxiety prevails within
the Algerian national soccer team before meeting its Cameroonian counterpart on
March 25 in the first leg of the qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup, which
will be hosted by Qatar starting in November.
Boko Haram
The reason behind these fears and
concern is the increase in threats by Boko Haram, which has continued its
terrorist acts in several regions of Cameroon in recent days, resulting in the
killing of a number of soldiers as well as innocent civilians, according to the
various headlines that came in many local newspapers in the capital, Yaounde.
The security situation has returned
to running out of control again on the Cameroon-Nigeria border a few days
before Cameroon’s match against its Algerian counterpart at Japoma stadium in
the first leg of qualifying match for the World Cup in Qatar.
In recent days, Boko Haram has
carried out intense attacks on the border between Cameroon and Nigeria, which
resulted in the death of a soldier and the mutilation of his body, while dozens
of soldiers as well as civilians were injured.
Breadth of
battles
The battles between Boko Haram and
the Cameroonian army expanded to include parties inside Cameroonian cities, not
far from the city of Douala, where the Japoma stadium is located that will host
the match against the Algerian national team on March 25.
According to the latest security
reports from Cameroon, a major risk of terrorism threatens the Algerian team as
it travels to Douala to compete in the first leg of the African qualifying
match for the World Cup finals in Qatar.
An armed group had raised the
concerns of the Cameroonian security authorities during the recent African Cup
of Nations that took place in the country, specifically in Limbe, which hosted
Group F matches and included Mali, Tunisia, Mauritania and Gambia, complicating
the preparations of these teams for the matches played there.
Constant terror
Terrorist operations are continuing
in Cameroon, launched by Boko Haram, and the latest operation by the terrorist
organization was launched against a military base north of Yaounde near the
border with Nigeria on Tuesday, March 8, which resulted in the killing of a
Cameroon soldier and the injury of many others.
On Wednesday, March 9, Boko Haram
launched an attack in a village located in the Kolofata district of the
Mayo-Sava department, which resulted in the injury of many residents of the
village, in addition to the families of a number of the village's youth,
according to the preliminary results announced by the county governor.
In the event that fierce battles
continue between the Cameroonian army and Boko Haram and spread to other
regions, the match between Algeria and Cameroon in Douala will be under threat
of cancellation due to the deteriorating security situation.
The Cameroonian press also confirmed
on Wednesday, March 9, that Boko Haram has intensified its terrorist operations
in separate areas of the country and is now targeting military barracks as well
as populated villages, according to Flash Info, which confirmed that Boko Haram
exploits sensitive areas in Cameroon, such as those bordering the Gulf of
Guinea, which is open to the Atlantic Ocean, as well as cities on the border
with Nigeria.
The developments in the security
situation in Cameroon during the next few days will be a reference to the
possibility of canceling or holding the play-off match of the 2022 World Cup
qualifiers on schedule between the Algerian national team and its Cameroonian
host on March 25.
It is not yet clear whether the
Algerian Football Federation will act with the Confederation of African
Football regarding these developments in order to obtain security guarantees
before traveling to Douala.
