CAF Probes Political Statements at CHAN 2022 Opening Ceremony in Algeria

CAF states that it has been informed of the content of certain remarks made during the opening ceremony of CHAN 2023. "According to its Statutes and Regulations and those of FIFA, the Confederation of African Football must refrain from getting involved in politics and remain neutral on political issues," CAF said in a statement posted on its website.

According to the African football body, "these political statements are not those of CAF and do not reflect a point of view or opinion of CAF as a politically neutral organization." While regretting this situation, the statement stresses that "CAF will conduct investigations to establish whether and to what extent the political statements and events of the opening ceremony of the TotalEnergies CHAN Algeria 2022 violate the Statutes and Regulations of CAF and FIFA. It will report its findings in due course."

It should be recalled that Morocco, the defending champion, withdrew from participating in this competition for not having received the agreement of the Algerian authorities for the Royal Air Maroc aircraft of the local players to land in Constantine. The executive committee of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation had met on December 27 and decided that Morocco would abstain from any participation if the authorization was not granted to Morocco.