Moroccan Leader Condemns Racist Chants at African Soccer Tournament in Algeria

"Give them bananas! The Moroccans are animals!", chanted Algerian supporters during the opening ceremony of CHAN 2023 currently taking place in Algeria. Remarks that have shocked the PJD leader. "Don’t think of solving your problems by stirring up enmity with your Moroccan brothers," reacted Abdelilah Benkirane, who deplores a "shameful" act. According to him, a senior Algerian official would be behind these actions.

"This is not in line with our religion, our norms or our values and our common history," the secretary general of the Islamist party lashed out, adding that "what is happening today will have undesirable consequences in the future." According to him, Morocco should not "respond to provocations." "If the Algerian team came to play in Morocco, I think the citizens would give them the warmest welcome possible," he said.

Before Benkirane, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) had, in a statement, expressed "its deep disgust at the racist remarks made by spectators towards the Moroccan public known for its civility".