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Algerian Star Cheb Khaled Sparks Outrage with Pro-Morocco Soccer Anthem
Thursday 4 July 2019, by
For having composed a song in favor of the Moroccan national team, in the context of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) football tournament, which is being played in Egypt, the star of Algerian music, Cheb Khaled, is the subject of sustained criticism from his fellow citizens.
This is the biggest scandal of the moment in Algeria, this song by the raï star, Cheb Khaled, which encourages the "Atlas Lions", cited by most of the media as one of the favorite teams of this 32nd edition of the CAN.
The words used are very harsh: "Scandal", "Earthquake", "Sold out"... These are the qualifiers of the Algerian press to denounce the latest clip of the singer, Cheb Khaled. Indeed, according to ObservAlgérie, "Morroco 4 ever", the title of the song, had the effect of a "real earthquake" among Algerian fans.
On social networks, Internet users are not calming down, overwhelming Khaled with insults, for having chosen, they say, "to encourage Morocco and not Algeria for CAN 2019". Others, still, wonder "how much the Oran star has received for this hymn to the glory of the probable opponent of the "Greens", in Cairo".
Married to a Moroccan, Hadj Brahim Khaled, his civil name, says he has never adhered, since his youngest age, to the concept of borders that separate the Maghreb. "I grew up within three countries that make up the great Maghreb: Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Originally from Oran, I spent my childhood with Moroccans living in Algeria. We were one family," the star observed in an interview with France 24. And he added that the Algerian singer had confirmed that King Mohammed VI had granted him Moroccan nationality a few years ago.
All these reasons have certainly motivated the raï star to compose this song in favor of the Moroccan team.