CHAN 2022: Morocco Reportedly Back-Out

2020 CHAN winners Morocco have reportedly decided not to participate in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) scheduled for Algeria from January 13 to February 4, 2023.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has withdrawn, as reported this Tuesday January 3 by French site Onze Mondial. The FRMF had requested a direct flight for its delegation which was to go to Algeria, but saw its request turned down by the Algerian authorities, adds Onze Mondial.

The president of the FRMF, Fouzi Lekjaa, had written to CAF, a few days ago – and the organizing committee, asking them to allow a plane of the Royal Air Maroc (RAM), to fly the Moroccan delegation directly to the Constantine airport.

The request was deemed unnecessary by Algerian authorities and many observers, given the diplomatic dispute between Algeria and Morocco.

The Moroccan request was adjudged as a way of violating Algeria’s decision to ban the touch down of Moroccan planes on its territory, following strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.

However, the response of the CHAN Organizing Committee to the request of the FRMF was clear. On Wednesday, December 28, a media release by Rachid Oukali, head of the CHAN organizing committee, clarified that the host country is “responsible” for the transportation of participating delegations at the “local level, only”.

For her part, the Algerian Minister of Youth and Sports indicated in a statement to BeIN Sports – on December 29, that CAF communicated to Algerian authorities about Morocco’s request to provide a direct flight to its delegation.

The Algerian minister added that “the response of the Algerian authorities to CAF’s request will be known within 24 hours”.

It is now clear that the authorities are not interested in restructuring their laws to suit the the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.

Morocco is housed in group C of CHAN 2022 consisting of Sudan, Madagascar and Ghana. Morocco are joint most successful team in the tourney with 2 trophies alongside DR Congo.