Algerian Wrestler Withdraws from Arab Championship Final Against Moroccan Opponent

Sabry, who had dominated her category throughout the tournament, found herself without an opponent in the final. Belaid cited an injury to withdraw from the competition.

However, according to several consistent sources, the real reason for Belaid’s withdrawal was the presence on the Moroccan team’s jerseys of a map of Morocco including the Sahara.

This design choice has repeatedly provoked objections from Algerian athletes and officials. The International Wrestling Federation (FILA), the world governing body of the sport, had already approved the request of the Royal Moroccan Wrestling Federation to include the complete map on its jerseys. A decision that has since led to many Algerian withdrawals in international competitions involving Moroccan athletes.

This incident recalls the jersey controversy that occurred last month, where the Algerian football team, USM Alger, refused to play against RS Berkane because of the latter’s jersey displaying the complete map of Morocco. USM Alger had then withdrawn from the first and second leg semi-finals of the African Confederation Cup, leading to its disqualification and the qualification of Berkane for the final against Egypt’s Zamalek.

In addition to Sabry’s victory, the Moroccan wrestling team achieved good performances throughout the tournament. In the under-23 freestyle wrestling category, Moroccans Tarik Benhachem and Saad Amandar both won gold. Benhachem prevailed in the 57 kg category on the wire (7-5) against Jordanian Suhib Ramzi Al-Marafi, while Amandar won the 86 kg category by beating Omar Fawzi Al-Lahham (8-5).