CHAN
Morocco football federation accuses Algeria of politicizing CHAN
According to Moroccan English newspaper, Morocco World News, Algeria used the opening ceremony of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) as a political platform to smear Morocco and challenge its territorial integrity.
It reported that the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has released a statement denouncing Algeria’s smearing of Morocco during the opening ceremony of CHAN.
In the opening ceremony of the continental tournament, the Algerian regime invited Nelson Mandela’s Grandson Zwelivelile Mandela, who delivered an anti-Morocco political speech attacking the country’s territorial integrity.
In addition to the politicization of the CHAN’s launching ceremony, Algerian fans in the stadium were filmed chanting offensive slogans comparing Moroccans to animals.
Morocco is not taking part in the tournament as the Algerian regime rejected the country’s request for its team to fly directly to Constantine, the Algerian city where its games were scheduled to be played.
Morocco’s Football Federation described the behavior of Algerian fans and the opening ceremony as “vile practices,” “absurd maneuvers,” and a “flagrant violation of the laws governing football events.”
The federation also condemned the “racist” chants directed at the Moroccan fans, noting it is considering filing a complaint with the CAF.
CAF should assume full responsibility for the “blatant breaches” of the ethics of football, the Moroccan federation wrote, the FRMF said.
Algeria’s using the CHAN as a platform to smear Morocco has also sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many calling on the African Football Confederation (CAF) to step in and adequately punish the country’s offensive politicization of a continental sporting event.
In the wake of the much-decried opening ceremony, the Arabic hashtag “Nelson Mandela’s grandson is a disgrace to Mendela” has been going viral in the MENA region. Many commenters have slammed Zwelivelile Mandela for staining his grandfather’s legacy by inciting hatred against Morocco instead of promoting peace and solidarity in Africa.
The Algerian regime has long contested Morocco’s territorial integrity, financing and arming the separatist Polisario Front in its “independence war” in southern Morocco.
Reports have documented Polisario’s embezzling of the humanitarian aid meant for refugees living in dismal conditions in the Tindouf camps in Algeria. In addition, many observers have over the years described the separatist group as a threat to regional stability.
The attack on Morocco’s territorial integrity and Moroccan fans comes at a time when the country is making significant diplomatic gains in promoting its territorial integrity to Algeria’s dismay.
Morocco’s Autonomy Plan for the Western Sahara dispute is garnering international acclaim as many countries embrace the plan as the best and most pragmatic route to a lasting settlement of the territorial dispute.
Ghana and Nigeria are paired together for the third time in the qualifying series for the African Nations Championship. They had met in the 2009 and the 2022 series. The aggregate results were in Ghana’s favour.
First in the 2009 qualifiers, Nigeria squandered a 2-0 first-half lead in Accra and lost 3-2. But going into the return leg played in Calabar, they could not score a goal that could have seen them through on away goal rule as they ended the match 0-0.
In the last edition, Nigeria for the 2023 edition, Nigeria lost 2-0 in Accra but levelled up in Abuja after a late 2-0 win. But in the eventual penalty shoot-out, the Nigerian team lost 5-4.
Will they overcome Ghana this time?
There will be no qualifying series for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in North Africa. This is sequel to the withdrawal of Algeria and Egypt.
With the region entitled to three teams, the remaining three – Morocco, Tunisia and Libya qualify automatically.
The age-long rivalry has again been rekindled as the draw for the 2025 African Nations Championship has pitched Ghana and Nigeria together.
Both teams have a rivalry that dates back to 1951 and will have a confrontation that determines which country will qualify for the tournament which is opened only to domestic players.
It is also a measure of the relative strength of the domestic leagues of the countries. Ghana and Nigeria will play just in the second round of the West Africa Zone B qualifier while Togo and Benin will the first round and the winner play against Niger Republic.
The rivalry of Nigeria and Ghana has gone beyond sports, especially in football, It extends to the culinary industry as each claims to be better in the cooking of Jollof rice, hence the ‘Jollof Rice’ controversy.
In another West Africa Zone B qualifiers, Cote d’Ivoire will face Burkina Faso. The first round of qualifiers will be played on the weekend of 25 – 27 October and 01 – 03 November 2024, with the second round confirmed for 20 – 22 December and 27 – 29 December 2024.
Three nations qualify for the tournament from each zone except the East, where one country qualifies with co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Finals to be played from Feb 1-28, 2025 in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Kampala.
North Region
Libya, Morocco and Tunisia qualify automatically
West A region
First Round
- Sierra Leone v Liberia
Second Round
- Sierra Leone or Liberia v Senegal (holders)
Mauritania v Mali
Guinea v Guinea-Bissau
West B region
First Round
Togo v Benin
Second Round
Togo or Benin v Niger
Ivory Coast v Burkina Faso
Ghana v Nigeria
Central region
Second Round
Equatorial Guinea v Congo Brazzaville
Central African Republic v Cameroon
Chad v Democratic Republic of Congo
East region
First Round
Burundi v Somalia
Ethiopia v Eritrea
Sudan v Tanzania (co-hosts)
South Sudan v Kenya (co-hosts)
Djibouti v Rwanda
Second Round
Burundi or Somalia v Uganda (co-hosts)
Ethiopia or Eritrea v Sudan or Tanzania
South Sudan or Kenya v Djibouti or Rwanda
South region
First Round
Zimbabwe v Eswatini
Lesotho v Namibia
Second Round
Zimbabwe or Eswatini v Madagascar
Lesotho or Namibia v Angola
Mozambique v Zambia
NFF Communication director unfolds 20 Points of a 20-hour ordeal on Libyan soil
African football legends, Adebayor and Aubameyang condemn Libya’s treatment of Super Eagles
BREAKING! CAF wades into the Libya-Nigeria Airport episode
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
AIU releases its report on Tobi Amusan
-
Uncategorized1 week ago
Players boycott Libyan national team
-
AFCON4 days ago
Billiat’s penalty seals Zimbabwe’s 1-0 win over Namibia
-
AFCON1 week ago
Eguavoen unfolds Super Eagles’ squad for back-to-back duel with Libya
-
AFCON6 days ago
Facts & Figures as AFCON 2025 qualifiers enter Matchday 3
-
AFCON5 days ago
AFCON 2025 in Morocco: Everything you need to know
-
AFCON5 days ago
Libya’s captain, Faisal Al-Badri alleges poor treatment in Nigeria
-
Uncategorized6 days ago
CAF compels Kwasi Appiah to step down from Ghana FA
-
Uncategorized1 week ago
Fastest World Cup final scorer is dead!