Algeria-France friendly meeting: Zetchi-Le Graet meeting "end of January 2020" in Algiers

The presidents of the Algerian (FAF) and French (FFF) football federations are going to meet "end of January 2020" in Algiers to continue discussions on the project of a friendly match between the two selections "next autumn" in Algeria. revealed Kheïreddine Zetchi.

"We will see each other at the beginning of next year, at the end of January in Algeria. On our invitation, we will be welcoming President Noel Le Graet and we will continue to talk about the organization of this friendly match. But you have to know that there are constraints in relation to the FIFA dates of each other. We play at the CAF level and France at UEFA level. There are qualifying matches at the 2022 World Cup on the horizon. I think there is a willingness from both sides to organize this Algeria-France return match, but there are timing constraints that we will try to solve, "said Kheïreddine Zetchi at the microphone of RMC Sport.

FAF President Zetchi and his French counterpart met Monday in France to discuss the project of the friendly meeting of the "Greens" against the "Blues" in 2020 but no decision was made at the end of the head headed.

"We were able to trade for almost two hours. We discussed a lot of topics including youth exchanges, games between our selections of young people who are already registered and will be announced. Regarding the match of the senior teams, we started to prepare the ground, "he added.

For the president of the federal body, the motivation to organize this meeting between the champions of Africa and the world champions is "strong", it is only necessary to overcome the constraints of the international calendar.

"The President of the French Federation Noel Le Graet is very excited about coming to play in Algeria with the selection. So the motivations are there and the two federations are on the same wavelength compared to this point. It's only calendar constraints that need to be addressed, "said Zetchi.

Asked about the stadium to host this friendly meeting that will surely drain a lot of people, the president of the FAF responded: "We are very close to the reception of large stadiums in Algeria, including Baraki (Algiers) and Oran who will to host the Mediterranean Games in 2021, and this current 2020. I think we can organize beautiful posters in Algeria and in particular to receive the team of France ".

The two sides are looking to organize a friendly match in Algeria, 18 years after a first date played on October 6, 2001 at the Stade de France (defeat of the "Greens" 4-1). This meeting was interrupted in the 76th minute following a invasion of the lawn.