Body of Missing Moroccan Footballer Repatriated from Algeria After Months-Long Delay

This tragedy had begun on July 6 off M’diq. A recreational outing with friends turned into a nightmare when their boat capsized. Three people were rescued, but Abdellatif Akhrif and his friend Salman Harraq were swept away by the waves.

The discovery of the body at Cap Falcon had immediately raised hope for the Akhrif family, who had thought they recognized the young man by his clothes and other clues. DNA tests had been carried out to remove any doubt, but the wait for the results and repatriation authorizations had lasted for long months.

There was a strong probability that the body was that of the player Abdellatif Akhrif, the Algerian consulate general in Casablanca had finally confirmed on November 28, after comparing the DNA samples.

Despite this confirmation, the repatriation of the body had proven to be complex. The Moroccan consulate in Oran had had to engage in procedures with the prosecutor general to obtain the necessary documents. Finally, the Algerian authorities had agreed to simplify the procedure and to hand over the remains to the family via the border post of "Zouj Bghal" in Oujda.

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