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Morocco’s hopes of defending the African Nations Championship (CHAN) may be dashed after a long wait at Rabat airport without a plane taking off.
The 2021 winning team withdrew from the tournament on Thursday after the Algerian government apparently refused a request to fly the team directly there on Morocco’s national airline. However, the organizers remained hopeful.
“What we are experiencing today is that the Moroccan national team is disappointing in the waiting room at the airport,” said Fauzi Lekjaer, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) on Friday.
“Young people have worked for years, prepared for this championship for months, and prepared in every way to enter the championship and defend their title.”
Algeria cut diplomatic ties with Morocco in 2021 over a dispute over Western Sahara, a territory annexed by Morocco in 1975.
However, the CHAN champion was still planning to play in soccer tournaments.
On Friday morning in Rabat, players, football association delegations, journalists and representatives were ready to board a flight from Rabat-Salé airport in hopes that Algeria would finally allow the trip. However, no approval was obtained from Algiers.
African Football Confederation President Patrice Motsepe said: “I can say that Morocco’s performance in all 54 African countries has taken a lot of pride.
“So we continue. We need to apply our ethos because there can never be a situation like this. We can’t have this situation with these problems.”
CHAN kicked off Friday with hosts Algeria defeating Libya 0-0.
The Atlas Lions were due to play their opening match against Sudan on Sunday, but it remains unclear how their withdrawal will affect the format of the competition and whether Morocco will receive any punishment for their withdrawal. .
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