The diplomatic tug-of-war between Rabat and Algiers has shifted to the sports field with the cancellation of the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals between the Moroccan club Renaissance de Berkane and the Union Sportive de la Médina d’Alger, on Sunday, April 21, 2024, due to the jersey of the Atlas Lions containing a map of the kingdom integrating the Sahara.
After a long wait at Algiers’ Houari Boumediene airport due to the blocking by Algerian customs of its luggage including its jerseys containing a map of Morocco integrating the Sahara , the delegation of the Renaissance sportive de Berkane finally agreed on Friday to return to its hotel.
While they arrived in Algeria as part of the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals, the players and staff of Renaissance sportive de Berkane have been "taken hostage" due to the jersey containing a map of Morocco including the Sahara.
Algeria has banned the entry into its territory of the jersey of the Moroccan club Renaissance de Berkane, which will have to cross swords with the Union Sportive de la Médina d’Alger, on Sunday, April 21, 2024, as part of the first leg of the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Part of the city of Rabat will be closed to automobile traffic. The CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations is the reason.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has denied rumors about the suspension of Sofyan Amrabat for two matches by the Confederation of African Football.
The president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, has again spoken about the date of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco , stating that the competition will not take place "at the same time as the Club World Cup".
The Ministry of Equipment and Water has provided details on the qualification criteria and construction work for the stadiums that will host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup matches.
The Secretary General of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Congolese Veron Mosengo-Omba, assured that FIFA, CAF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) have not yet found common ground on the date of the holding of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2025) in Morocco.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco will take place in July of that year, just after the Club World Cup. After some tensions, FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) seem to have found common ground.
The next Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) to be held in Morocco is at the center of discussions between FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe and Fouzi Lekjaâ, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
Eliminated in the round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, the Moroccan football team will nevertheless receive a bonus from the Confederation of African Football.