THE Algerian Government has placed the domestic football under lockdown, declaring all remaining Ligue 1 matches should be played behind closed doors, providing the biggest signal the 2021 AFCON qualifier against Zimbabwe in Blida might not go ahead as scheduled.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune made the pronouncement yesterday in an effort to contain the spread of coronavirus, whose epicentre in Blida, where the Desert Foxes are scheduled to host the Warriors on March 26.

“The Algerian Government, as instructed by the President of the country, has announced that all remaining matches of Algerian #Ligue1DZ season will be played behind closed doors due to the #coronavirus#Africa,” read a tweet from the Algerian top-flight league.

This is likely to increase the possibility of the match being postponed with a number of the Desert Foxes based in Europe’s top leagues, including talisman Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City, unlikely to take the risk of going into an area ravaged by coronavirus.-State media