Former Morocco Star Slams Football Federation Chief Over Potential U17 AFCON Boycott

"This would amount to a crime against Moroccan youth football," said the former MC Oujda coach, referring to the possibility that Morocco misses another opportunity to defend its title as champion because Algeria is the host country. For him, another boycott will be "a greater sporting stupidity and insolence than the previous decision that thwarted the dream of our children to go and defend their title during CHAN 2023".

It didn’t take more to stir up the anger of Internet users who condemned the former international’s remarks. But the latter is not at all intimidated. He is convinced that these decisions made by the FRMF president are purely political and have nothing to do with sport. Returning to the verdict of the CAF disciplinary committee on Morocco’s absence from the CHAN 2023, Abdeslam Ouaddou regrets the lack of firmness of the Confederation of African Football towards Morocco.

"I can only deplore this semblance of authority which will certainly not be beneficial for the development and equity of African football," he stressed before expressing doubts about the reasons why Morocco’s stadiums are often solicited to host certain qualifying matches.