Morocco Officially Withdraws from CHAN 2022

Officially, Morocco will not take part in the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which begins on January 13 in Algeria.

In a press release on January 12, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) declared that Morocco would not be participating.

“The Moroccan national football team is unable to travel to Constantine, Algeria, because Royal Air Maroc (RAM), the team’s official airline, has not yet received approval to fly from Rabat to Constantine,” FRMF said in a statement.

The FRMF has been awaiting a response from the CAF since December 2022 after threatening to boycott the event if the national team did not take a direct flight on Royal Air Maroc from Rabat to Constantine, the location of their matches.

According to sources, the federation ordered its U23 athletes, who would compete on behalf of the country, to leave the training facility at the Mohammed VI Football Complex and report to their clubs on Wednesday.

The FRMF noted with regret that obtaining a final authorization of the RAM flight from Rabat to Constantine has regrettably still not been confirmed by CAF. “While the trip of the Moroccan selection from Rabat to Constantine is organized by the FRMF and the start of CHAN is scheduled for January 13, 2023, meaning in 24 hours,” the FRMF noted.

Tensions between the two countries were exacerbated in 2021 after Algeria accused Morocco of interfering in its domestic affairs.

The Algerian regime also closed its airspace and cut ties with Morocco in 2021.