Morocco Officially Not Participating in CHAN 2023 in Algeria

The FRMF regretted that no official response to their request to allow the national team to travel to Constantine via the team’s official airline, Royal Air Maroc, has been confirmed.

Morocco officially does not participate in the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which will begin in Algeria on January 13.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announced Morocco’s non-participation in a press release on Thursday, January 12.

Explaining its decision, the FRMF stressed that “the Moroccan soccer team cannot travel to Constantine (Algeria) since the permit for the Royal Air Maroc (RAM) flight, the official airline of the Moroccan national team, from Rabat to Constantine has not been confirmed.”

In December 2022, the FRMF sent a request to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), emphasizing that Morocco would not participate in the tournament if Algeria refused to allow the Moroccan delegation to fly directly from Rabat to Constantine with the country’s official airline. , Royal Air Maroc.

In today’s statement, the FRMF recalled submitting a request, noting that the national team continued its training at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Sale from January 6 to 10 as part of its preparation for the tournament.

“Although the trip of the Moroccan team from Rabat to Constantine is organized by the FRMF and the start of the CHAN is scheduled for January 13, 2023, that is, in 24 hours, the FRMF notes with regret that obtaining an authorization Definitive RAM Unfortunately, the flight from Rabat to Constantine has not yet been confirmed by CAF”, lamented FRMF.

Amid Algeria’s reluctance and ambiguity, the Algerian media stressed that the absence of an official response indicates Algeria’s refusal to accept Morocco’s request.

Last week, Algeria’s Sports Minister Abderrazak Sebgag promised that his country would communicate his response to Morocco’s request through “official channels”.

“The FAF will respond to CAF through official channels. Algeria has its laws, its sovereignty that is above all consideration”, he said.

However, the Algerian news outlet TAS stressed that Sebgag’s comments “signify Algeria’s rejection” of Morocco’s request.

Tensions between the two countries escalated in 2021 after Algeria accused Morocco of interfering in its internal affairs.

The Algerian regime has also closed its airspace and cut ties with Morocco in 2021.