In a statement issued on Thursday afternoon, the Moroccan Football Federation (FMRF) says their team failed to fly to Algeria because the host country has restricted direct flights from Morocco’s capital, Rabat to the tournament’s host city, Constantine.
“The national team was unable to travel to the city of Constantine in order to participate in the seventh edition of the African Championship for local players, which will take place in Algeria between January 13 and February 4, 2023, to defend its title, which it won two years ago because we were not authorized to travel from Rabat-Salé Airport to Constantine Airport by Royal Air Maroc, the official carrier of the national team,” read part of the statement.
FMRF further says in its effort to have its national team travel to Algeria, it submitted a request, on December 22, 2022, to the Confederation of African Football to obtain a license for a flight via Royal Moroccan Airlines from Rabat to Constantine the host city of the tournament but CAF did not respond on time.
“The Royal Moroccan Football Federation had submitted, on December 22, 2022, a request to the Confederation of African Football, as the body responsible for organizing the African Championship for local players, in order to obtain a license for a flight via Royal Moroccan Airlines from Rabat to Constantine, and the request was accepted in principle.
“While the national team was preparing to go to the city of Constantine on January 10, 2023, to participate in this continental championship, which will start on January 13, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, unfortunately, did not reach the final authorization within the limits of editing this communication by the Confederation of African Football to go to Algeria via the lines of the Moroccan monarchy,” wrote the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
Morocco, the reigning CHAN champions, were unable to fly directly to their neighbouring country, Algeria, due to the ongoing political tensions between the two north African countries.
In 2021, the Algerian government severed diplomatic ties with Morocco after accusing that country of meddling in its internal affairs.
Morocco’s withdrawal means CAF is now without its defending champion for the tournament and sanctions may be imposed on the North African country.
