The Atlas Lions will not defend their title in Algeria.
Morocco announced Thursday, January 12, the cancellation of its participation in CHAN due to the closure of Algerian airspace to Moroccan aircraft.
"The Moroccan football selection is not able to travel to Constantine (Algeria) insofar as the final authorization of its Royal Air Maroc (RAM) flight, official carrier of the Moroccan football selections, from Rabat to Constantine has not been confirmed," the Moroccan Federation (FRMF) said in a statement.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF), organizer of CHAN, had however informed the FRMF on December 22 that "an authorization in principle had been obtained", according to the press release.
🚨بلاغ الجامعة الملكية المغربية لكرة القدم pic.twitter.com/FBGCkWXKK1
– FRMF (@FRMFOFFICIEL) January 12, 2023
Diplomatic break since September 2021
This tournament, reserved for players competing in the national championships, will be held from January 13 to February 4 in Algeria.
24 hours before kick-off, the Moroccan Federation "takes note with regret that obtaining the final authorization for the RAM flight from Rabat to Constantine has unfortunately still not been confirmed by CAF", underlined the FRMF.
Algiers closed its airspace on September 22, 2021 to all Moroccan civil and military aircraft after breaking diplomatic relations with Rabat.
This serious crisis is fueled by the thorny issue of Western Sahara, in a context of permanent tensions between the two enemy brothers.
The Atlas Lions have won the last two CHANs, in 2021 and 2018 with their pool of local players.
The performance of its national team at the World Cup with a historic 4th place for an African nation and the victory of Wydad Casablanca in the African Champions League once again made Moroccans serious contenders for final victory.
With AFP
The summary of the
France 24 week invites you to come back to the news that marked the week
I subscribe
Take international news everywhere with you!
Download the France 24 app