ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) Algeria is taking heavy security precautions ahead of Tuesday's World Cup qualifying match against Burkina Faso, mindful of the tensions in the country ahead of next year's presidential election.
The oil-rich North African nation announced that 9,000 security force members would be deployed to the city of Blida alone, where the game is being held. Police will be mobilized in other cities as well where jumbo screens will be showing the game.
It' the second and final round of the qualifier to see who goes to Brazil for the 2014 tournament next June. Burkina Faso won the first game at home 3-2.
A trip to the World Cup could bolster the government's campaign to sell 76-year-old President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to this soccer-mad nation for a fourth term in April. A loss, however, could stoke the public anger already simmering over the lack of jobs and services.
North Africa analyst Geoff Porter said the run-up to any Algerian presidential election is always tense as factions jockey for power.