Algeria Omits Morocco from CHAN Winners List Amid Diplomatic Tensions

A few days before the kick-off of the 7th edition of the African Nations Championship of local players (CHAN) scheduled from January 13 to February 4 in Algeria, the Algerian press agency APS devoted a preview to the event. In this article, it recalled the countries that have successively won the CHAN, but skipped Morocco. "On the eve of the kick-off, scheduled for January 13 at the brand new Baraki stadium (Algiers) for the opening match between Algeria and Libya, the Arab teams have managed to win four titles out of six," the APS specifies without however specifying that two of these titles were won by the Atlas Lions.

As the host country of the fifth edition of the CHAN, Morocco had won its first title, after beating the Nigerian team 4-0. At the end of the 6th edition of the CHAN organized by Cameroon in 2021, the Atlas Lions won their second consecutive title against the Malian team (2-0) in the final match.

Morocco, the defending champion, will be absent from the 7th edition of the CHAN due to Algeria’s rejection of a request from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). The latter demanded that the Lionceaux of the Atlas travel to Constantine, the host city of Morocco’s matches, via a direct flight from Rabat on board a Royal Air Maroc (RAM) aircraft, the official carrier of the national teams.