Algeria wants Mali WC match moved

Algeria wants Mali WC match moved

Published May. 8, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

FIFA says Algeria has asked for the World Cup qualifier next month in Mali to be moved to a neutral venue because of instability in the West African country.

FIFA says it is ''monitoring the situation'' in Mali and will jointly decide with the Confederation of African Football on the request ''in due course.''

Mali has been troubled since soldiers toppled the president in March. Last week, club teams from Nigeria and Egypt were stranded in the capital, Bamako, after an attempted countercoup.

Nigeria's Sunshine Stars claimed to have been harassed by soldiers at their hotel, while Al Ahly returned home on an Egyptian military plane after also being unable to leave for days.

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Mali is due to host Algeria on June 8.

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