The Algerian National Football Federation has decided to halt all matches in the aftermath of a tragic bus crash that claimed the lives of two members of Mouloudia El Bayadh from the Algerian League 1.
Goalkeeper Zakaria Bouziani, 27, and assistant coach Khalid Muftah were identified as the victims from the crash.
The team’s bus overturned in Sougueur, northwest Algeria, as they were headed to Tizi Ouzou for a league match against JSK Kabylie on Friday.
State media reported the unfortunate incident, and the club, through Facebook, shared that the other injured players and officials are currently in stable condition.
“In the wake of the painful tragedy that has befallen Algerian football… we have decided to suspend all football activities scheduled for the end of this week across the entire country,” said the federation. “The ceremony for the draw of the rounds of 32 and 16 of the Algerian Cup has also been postponed until a later date.”
President of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed his “deep anguish and sorrow” at learning of the incident. He expressed his sympathies to the victims’ families.
El Bayadh is currently 12 points behind the leaders MC Alger in the Algerian League 1 standings, having collected 15 points from 10 games.
