Nelson Mandela Stadium scandal in Algiers has exposed serious negligence in the management of the sporting infrastructure, leading to dismissals at the highest levels. The situation exemplifies the problems facing Algerian sport.

Beginning of scandal

It all started on Sunday, August 18, during a match between MC d'Alger and Watanga FC of Liberia, played in the preliminary round of the African Champions League. Instead of sporting excitement, public attention was focused on the dire state of Nelson Mandela Stadium in Baraka. The facility, which was officially opened only in January 2023, today presents a picture of neglect and degradation.

A few days before the match, photos and videos began circulating on the internet showing the disastrous state of the pitch and stands. The dilapidated, yellowed turf and littered, dusty seats shocked fans and sports officials alike. One video, which shows a father trying to clean a seat for his daughter, particularly moved the public. Actions that should have been carried out by managers and stadium staff were neglected.

© DZ Stadiums

Attempts to cover up problems

The reaction of the authorities was immediate, but seems to have been motivated mainly by a desire to cover up the problem rather than solve it. On the first weekend after the recordings came to light, the Algerian authorities fired the director of the Mohamed Boudiaf Olympic complex, Ismaïl Mohamed Saïd. The decision came just an hour after Saïd himself fired the first manager of Nelson Mandela Stadium in an attempt to salvage the situation and avoid responsibility for the state of the facility.

According to local media reports, the decision to sack Saïd was hastened after it was revealed that the accumulated rubbish in and around the stadium was in such quantities that the company responsible for removing it was unable to cope with the task. The sight of the neglected facility forced the ministry to respond immediately. The situation at Nelson Mandela Stadium is symptomatic of a wider problem of chaotic management of sports facilities in Algeria.

The cleaning crew entered the stadium only after the scandal