Algeria Pushes to Relocate African Handball Cup from Disputed Laâyoune

In an interview with the Algerian channel AL24, Abdelkrim Bendjemil indicated that the participation or not of the Algerian team in the next African Cup of Nations (CAN) to be held in Laâyoune "is no longer the responsibility of the federation". "I know that Algerian diplomacy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports, has taken over this file. In my personal opinion, I don’t think Algeria will be eliminated or sanctioned. I know very well that Algerian diplomacy is very strong and that we won’t get to that point..." he argued.

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Algeria blames the African Handball Confederation for having chosen Laâyoune to host the next CAN, because according to it, "this is not Moroccan territory". "It is unthinkable and impossible for the African championship to take place in these cities. Discussions have been initiated in order to find solutions. Let them play this African Cup in Rabat, Casablanca, or wherever they want, but not in the occupied territories of Western Sahara," insisted the president of the FAHB board, believing that Algeria still has "time" to participate in this competition.

"At worst, the African Cup can be postponed, because we are in our right," Bendjemil also added, assuring that "the file is very well handled by the Algerian state and this problem will soon be resolved".