Morocco forced to cancel its participation in CHAN in Algeria

Morocco will not be able to travel to Algeria to defend its title in the African local players championship (CHAN) after its request for a direct flight on board national carrier RAM was rejected.

Morocco will not be able to defend its title because “it was not given permission for a trip departing from Rabat-Sale towards Constantine airport via a flight of the Royal Air Maroc the official carrier of Moroccan national teams,” the Moroccan Royal Football Federation said in a statement.

Algeria has closed its airspace to all Moroccan flights adding to borders which it has kept closed since 1994.

Last month, Morocco’s Royal Football Federation told the Confederation of African Football that the national team could boycott the CHAN if it is not allowed to have a direct flight to Algeria.

Besides, The military junta in Algeria has succeeded in contaminating many Algerian youth with its venom of hostility to Morocco. During a U17 football tournament, Moroccan under-age players were attacked on the pitch by adult fans who invaded the stadium few months ago.

During the Mediterranean games, Moroccan athletes had to make stopovers in Tunis adding to their journey instead of making a direct flight to save time and effort but mostly to preserve their pride in taking their own flag carrier.

The bad relations Algeria has with many of its neighbors, its hostility towards Morocco and its lack of sportsmanship all converge to cast a shadow on Algeria’s bid to host the African Cup of Nations in 2025.