Morocco Clarifies CHAN 2023 Travel Request Amid Algeria Controversy

"The national team represents Morocco. Its participation in this event, it has had it by right and as for all sporting events, the host country, in this case Algeria, naturally presents facilities to all the participating countries," Lekjâa responded at a press conference.

And he added that "contrary to what has been tried to be heard on the other side, we have at no time asked Algeria to guarantee us a special flight. We have asked that the plane that is to transport the national team on January 10 be authorized to land at the airport in Constantine, the host city of the team’s matches. And of course, the official carrier of all the national teams is Royal Air Maroc."

A few days ago, Morocco had threatened not to participate in the African competition if Algeria did not authorize the arrival of the team on site via a direct flight from the Moroccan company Royal Air Maroc. This overflying of Algerian territory, the crux of the problem, has been prohibited for the Moroccan company since September 2021.