In Morocco, the portrait of King Mohammed VI bothers the Algerian delegation

20 December 2025 – bySaid · 1 min read

This is a false note that the organization would have done without on the eve of the great continental ball. While Rabat is vibrating with the final preparations for the 2025 CAN, an incident that occurred at the Marriott hotel has thrown a diplomatic chill. The Algerian delegation, which has taken up residence there, is at the heart of a controversy after having hidden the portrait of King Mohammed VI in one of its meeting rooms.

It is difficult to plead clumsiness or chance. According to the elements reported by Barlamane and documented by photos, a curtain was deliberately drawn to mask the image of the Sovereign, a characterized breach of the hospitality customs that apply to any foreign team. It took the direct intervention of the establishment’s staff to restore the portrait to view and re-establish the protocol in force in the Kingdom.

This gesture, perceived as an unnecessary provocation, brutally reminds us that the border between the field and political tensions remains porous when it comes to the neighbor to the East. While Morocco is trying to place this event under the sign of welcome and celebration, this episode unnecessarily tightens the atmosphere, transforming a simple logistical space into a terrain of silent contestation, far from the sporting spirit expected for the kickoff.

Category: Sport

Keywords:

Football Africa Cup of Nations Algeria