CHAN 2022: Morocco pulls out over diplomatic tension
By Pavel
The current title holders of the African Nations Championship, Morocco, have withdrawn their participation at this year’s edition of the biennial tournament, a day to the start.
Algeria are to host the 2022 CHAN (tournament for players playing in clubs within their countries of origin) from January 13 to February 4, but Morocco have announced they’ll boycott the event due to tense diplomatic ties.
A statement from the Royal Football Federation of Morocco, Thursday, said “the management committee of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), meeting on December 27, 2022, had taken a decision relating to Morocco’s participation in CHAN 2022, aimed at ensuring the transfer of the Moroccan Selection from Rabat to Constantine aboard a RAM (Royal Air Maroc) flight.”
From every indication, the request was not confirmed by CAF.
“The kick-off of CHAN 2022 is scheduled in 24 hours, the FRMF notes with regret that obtaining of the final authorization of the RAM flight from Rabat to Constantine has unfortunately still not been confirmed by CAF” a statement from from the Moroccan Federation said.
It is worth noting that the border between the two has remained closed since 1994.
The deterioration in their diplomatic ties escalated in August 2021, when Algiers cut all links with Rabat. Algeria closed its airspace to all Moroccan planes.
Despite the cancellation of direct flights between the two countries the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FMRF) insisted on taking a direct flight from Rabat to host city Constantine in Algeria.
The relationship between the two countries has been historically tense because of Algeria’s support of Polisario, a separatist movement in the Western Sahara region of Morocco.
