Diplomatic row: Morroco pulls out of African Nations Championship in Algeria
Barely 24-hours to the commencement of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Algeria, Morroco has pulled out of the tournament due to the diplomatic row between the two countries.
The withdrawal is as a consequence on hosts country Algeria refusal to grant the Moroccan team, a direct flight from their capital, Rabat to Algiers.
The Moroccan football federation said on Thursday the Algerian government rejected its request for the team to fly there directly on Morocco’s national airline.
Algeria closed its airspace to Moroccan aircraft in 2021 after it unilaterally severed diplomatic ties with its North African neighbour.
In the on-going situation, it is not clear if CAF will ban Morocco for the the last minute withdrawal. The Moroccans who are the defending Champions due to open their title defence against Sudan on Sunday.
The FIFA president, Gianni Infantino is already in Algeria for the championship.
The Moroccan football body had earlier written to the CAF stating that their team would only take part if its team could take a direct flight to Algeria with Royal Air Maroc.
There has been a tension between both countries majorly arising from their political differences which is tied to the future of Western Sahara, a territory that Morocco regards as its own but where Algeria backs an armed independence movement.
