Morocco will finally participate in the African Nations Championship in Algeria

Morocco will finally take part in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) football in Algeria, after announcing earlier Thursday the cancellation of its participation due to the closure of Algerian airspace to Moroccan planes, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

« The Moroccan national team will travel tomorrow to Algeria to participate in the CHANthe ministry told AFP on Thursday evening. Departure will be from Salé airport [près de Rabat] from 9 a.m. » Friday, January 13.

Thursday morning, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announced the cancellation of its team’s participation in CHAN because “the final authorization for his Royal Air Maroc flight, official carrier of the Moroccan football teams, from Rabat to Constantine, has not been confirmed” by Algeria, host country of the competition. Questioned in the evening, the FRMF said “always wait for flight clearance”.

“We haven’t received anything yet. The players are training and we will go as soon as our flight is cleared”explained to AFP Mohamed Makrouf, adviser to the president of the Moroccan federation. “We are awaiting this authorization from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) which must receive it from the Algerian authorities”added Mr. Makrouf.

Serious diplomatic crisis

CAF had informed the FRMF on December 22, 2022 that“an authorization in principle had been obtained”, according to the press release. It was not possible to obtain confirmation from the Algerian authorities.

The diplomatic source did not want to say if the Moroccan team would board a direct flight to reach Algeria.

The CHAN, reserved for players competing in the national championships, will be held from January 13 to February 4 in Algeria.

Algiers closed its airspace on September 22, 2021 to all Moroccan civil and military aircraft after breaking diplomatic relations with Rabat. A serious crisis fueled by the thorny issue of Western Sahara, in a context of permanent tensions between the two enemy brothers.

The Atlas Lions, one of the powerhouses of African football, have won the last two CHANs, in 2021 and 2018.