Egypt Offers to Replace Morocco in U17 AFCON Amid Potential Boycott

"If Morocco renounces its participation in the Nations Cup, the Egyptian national team (eliminated during the qualification phase for the AFCON), is ready to take its place in this tournament," Ehab Elkomy, member of the board of directors of the Egyptian Football Association, told the press. According to him, the Egyptian team has good players with whom it could achieve good results in this competition.

Recently, Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), announced on Radiomars that Morocco could boycott the U17 AFCON if the Lionceaux de l’Atlas are not allowed to travel by direct flight to Algeria, where the competition will take place. A request that the Algerian authorities had rejected a few weeks ago when it came to Morocco’s participation, the defending champion, in the 7th edition of the African Nations Championship for local players (CHAN). This rejection had pushed the Moroccan sports authorities to opt for the boycott of the competition.