Morocco's participation at the African Nations Championships (CHAN) is now under serious threat after host nation Algeria rejected the terms under which the Atlas Lions wanted to participate.
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With the CHAN tournament beginning on 13 January and running until 4 February, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) insisted last week that they would boycott the competition unless they are allowed to fly directly from the Moroccan capital of Rabat to the Algerian city of Constantine, where all their group matches will be contested.
Head of the FRMF Fouzi Lekjaa had sent representatives to CAF to give the ultimatum with the added criteria that the direct flight between the two cities had to take place with Royal Air Maroc.
However, the Algerians have decided to reject Morocco's terms for participation, as was evident in their response to African football's governing body on the matter.
"We are obliged to ensure the movement of teams only on national territory," president of the Algerian Local Organising Committee Rachid Oukali said, as per Hespress.
"There is no mention in the specifications that a direct line must be made available to the teams. Most of the countries of the continent will make stopovers."
The two north African nations cut ties back in 2021 following a strain in diplomatic relations, which subsequently saw Algeria close its airspace, placing the reigning champions' involvement in the tournament at serious risk.
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Morocco became the first team in the tournament's history to retain the CHAN title when they defeated Mali 2-0 in the final of the bi-annual competition in 2021.
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