Algerian Club May Boycott CAF Match Over Moroccan Jersey Dispute

Last year, a dispute over the jersey containing a map of Morocco including the Sahara worn by the Moroccan players had ultimately led to the cancellation of the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals scheduled for Sunday, April 21, 2024 between the Algerian team USM Alger and the Moroccan team RS Berkane. The Algerian players had indeed refused to play against the Moroccan team because of its jersey. Subsequently, the CAF officially homologated the jersey of Renaissance Sportive de Berkane (RSB) with the complete map of Morocco for the 2024-2025 season, before imposing heavy sanctions on Algeria due to the cancellation of this match. This year, the governing body of African football has decided to maintain the same jersey.

As the draw for the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup approaches, USM Alger fears a confrontation against RS Berkane. If the draw pits the Algerian players against their Moroccan counterparts, the Algerian club will find itself in a delicate situation: play the match or risk a new elimination from the competition in case of refusal. Are we heading towards a remake?