Defending CHAN champions Morocco have announced that they will not be traveling to Algeria due travel issues with the host nation.
Morocco are yet to receive authorisation to fly directly from Rabat to Constantine as a result of diplomatic issues with Algeria after the host nation reportedly rejected Morocco’s request to open its airspace to allow the Moroccan national football team to travel to the neighbouring country on a direct Royal Air Maroc (RAM) flight.
The 2022 CHAN, which was initially set to take place between 10 July and 1 August 2022 but was moved to 2023, kicks off on Friday when Algeria face Libya, with Morocco’s first game against Sudan scheduled for Sunday.
However, on Thursday the Royal Moroccan Football Federation confirmed they are unable to travel to Algeria due to outstanding authorisations.
“The Moroccan Football Selection is unable to travel to Constantine (Algeria) to play the 7th edition of the African Nations Football Championship which will be organized in Algeria from January 13 to February 4, 2023 ( CHAN 2002) and defend his title insofar as the final authorization for his Royal Air Maroc (RAM) flight, official carrier of the Moroccan Football Selections, from Rabat to Constantine has not been confirmed,” the RMFF said via a statement.
“As a reminder, the Management Committee of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), meeting on December 27, 2022, had taken a decision relating to Morocco’s participation in CHAN 2022, aimed at ensuring the transfer of the Moroccan Selection from Rabat to Constantine aboard a RAM flight.
“Following its request for authorization of a RAM flight from Rabat to Constantine, the FRMF was informed on December 22, 2022 by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), as the body in charge of organizing the CHAN 2022, that an authorization in principle had been obtained.
“On the basis of this authorization in principle, the FRMF has (i) communicated the details of the Moroccan Selection’s flight plan and coordinates in order to obtain the final authorization for the RAM flight from Rabat to Constantine and (ii) continued the preparation of the trip and the participation of the Moroccan Selection in CHAN 2022, in particular the preparation camp at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé from January 6 to 10, 2023 during which two friendly matches against Ethiopia were played.
“While the trip of the Moroccan Selection from Rabat to Constantine is organized by the FRMF and the kick-off of CHAN 2022 is scheduled for January 13, 2023, i.e. in 24 hours, the FRMF notes with regret that obtaining of the final authorization of the RAM flight from Rabat to Constantine has unfortunately still not been confirmed by CAF.”
