Football is not free from the diplomatic disagreements they perpetuate. Morocco Y Algeria. The Moroccan football federation has announced that it will not participate in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) held in the neighboring country. They argue that the Algerian authorities do not allow direct flights between Rabat and Algeria for the Moroccan team to travel. Both countries currently have broken diplomatic relations and more than a year ago Algeria decided to bring all Moroccan planes into its airspace.
Morocco’s announcement comes the day before this competition starts in the Algerian town of Constantine. The winner of the last edition of this tournament, where only players competing in their own country’s leagues can participate, was the Moroccan team. In Algeria they think about it neighbors “boycotted” this championship and they criticize that Morocco conditioned their participation on the fact that the team flew directly from Rabat to Constantine. According to the Algeria-based TSA, the CHAN tender specification does not oblige the host country to authorize direct flights.
Algeria believes Rabat wants to circumvent the current restriction on Algerian airspace for Moroccan aircraft. Even the Minister of Youth and Sports of Algeria made it clear that this would not be possible because sovereignty issues are considered above alldefended the leader, as described by this media. The Moroccan federation argues that it requested flight clearance from the CAF (African Football Confederation) on 22 December, which is positive in principle. Algerian officials did not give the green light, although he explained that there were only 24 hours left for the match to start.
Both countries are historical dispute, one of the main reasons for the conflict with Western Sahara. Even the land borders between the two countries have been closed since 1994. This dispute took a leap in the summer of 2021 when Algeria cut ties with Morocco and closed its airspace, as well as accused it of “hostile acts”.
ongoing dispute
In recent months almost everything that concerned two neighbors became a cause of disagreement. For example, Moroccan ruler VI. Mohammed decided not to attend at the last moment. Although invited by the Algerian authorities and initially showing his intention to travel, he eventually did not travel, citing that the necessary conditions were not met.
Football and sport did not escape diplomatic warfare. The last jersey worn by the Algerian football team was criticized by Morocco and adidas was asked to withdraw it on the grounds that it was wearing it. “Cultural heritage theft”, because they thought it was inspired by “Moroccan tiles.” In the last World Cup, where Morocco managed to reach the semi-finals, many Moroccan users and the media on social networks criticized the Algerian television news for not covering the Atlas Lions’ victories.
The debate about Morocco’s decision not to join CHAN will not end there. Some Algerian media explains that Morocco is at risk of being sanctioned by the CAF (African Football Confederation), but they have not made a decision for now. This disagreement is only the beginning of another possible fight, as both countries are at the same time. will compete to host the next African CupIt will be played in 2025.