World Cup boost for Algeria and Cameroon

Written by Eugene N. Nforngwa

Sunday, 16 May 2010 19:08

A Confederation of African Football pardon means Algeria's Nadir Belhadj and Cameroon's Aurelien Chedjou are in line to contest their nation's opening World Cup matches.

Defenders Belhadj and Chedjou would otherwise have had to sit out group games against Slovenia and Japan respectively after receiving red cards at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.

But a decision taken at a Caf meeting in Cairo has handed the pair an unexpected reprieve.

However, Fifa has still to ratify the African ruling body's decision.

"The Executive Committee decided to declare a general amnesty for all ongoing sanctions, with the exception of those imposed as a result of physical aggression against a referee or official," reads a statement on the Caf website.

But a decision taken at a Caf meeting in Cairo has handed the pair an unexpected reprieve, especially since the African ruling body had rejected Algerian appeals in March.

"President Hayatou indicated that on the eve of such an important event as the organization of the World Cup on our continent, players … should take part and benefit from the occasion of this great football feast which is organized on African soil."

Algerian full-back Belhadj, a second-half substitute for Portsmouth in their FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea on Saturday, received a two-match ban following his red card against Egypt in January's Nations Cup semi-final defeat.

He served the first of these when missing the third-place play-off against Nigeria in Angola.

Yet there is no reprieve for his international colleague Faouzi Chaouchi, with the young goalkeeper handed a three-match ban after seeing red for seemingly attempting to head-butt the referee in the same game.

With Chaouchi having sat out the third-place play-off in Angola through suspension, he is eligible to play in Algeria's third and final Group C match against the United States should he able to dislodge regular number one Lounes Gaouaoui.

Algeria kick off their first World Cup in 24 years when facing Slovenia on 13 June, before meeting England in Cape Town on 18 June and the United States in Pretoria five days later.

Meanwhile, centre-back Chedjou, who plays his club football for French side Lille, also suffered a dismissal against the Egypt as the Indomitable Lions lost their quarter-final 3-1.

Cameroon open their Group E World Cup campaign against Japan in Bloemfontein on 14 June, followed by clashes with Denmark (19 June) in Pretoria and finally against the Dutch (24 June) in Cape Town.

Africa's first World Cup finals take place in South Africa between 11 June and 11 July.