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The two neighbours have been involved in a series of protracted disputes with recently fuelled by the Western Sahara dispute and relations with Israel. The standoff led to Algeria unilaterally closing its airspace for direct flights from both countries.
The Confederations of African Football, CAF, has exonerated the Moroccan football body (FRMF) of any faults after the country’s National team failed to show up at the Africa Nations Championships played in Algeria in January.
The two neighbours have been involved in a series of protracted disputes with recently fuelled by the Western Sahara dispute and relations with Israel.
Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony that was annexed by Morocco in 1975. The territory has been the subject of a territorial dispute between Morocco and its indigenous Sahrawi people, led by the Polisario Front Movement backed by the Algerian government.
that ALgeria The standoff led to Algeria unilaterally closing its airspace for direct flights from both countries.
the situation spilled over to CHAN where Morocco insisted on using their national carrier the Royal Air Maroc to fly directly to Constantine, the city that was scheduled to host their group games but Algeria did not heed their demands.
Morocco had initially been pooled in Group C alongside Madagascar, Sudan and Ghana but CAF was forced to reduce to three teams.
The CAF Disciplinary Board sat to investigate the case but found no grounds to penalise Morocco.
“… Royal Moroccan Federation was unable to travel and participate in the CHAN due to circumstances totally beyond their control, and as such no sanction of whatsoever nature is imposed on the Royal Moroccan Federation,” the continental body announced.
They also turned down Algeria’s prayer to order Morocco to pay for the damages.
Mandela’s speech
The body has also found Algeria not responsible for the political statements that the grandson of former South African president Nelson Mandela, Zwelivelile Mandela uttered over the Western Sahara situation.
“…Let us fight to free Western Sahara from oppression. Don’t forget the last colony of Africa, Western Sahara,” Madela said during the opening ceremony.
“After having extensively examined all the elements and evidence available, the Disciplinary Board considered that it should not find vicarious liability on Algeria Football Federation and that the provisions of strict liability could not have been foreseen and should not apply arising out of the statement made by Mr. Zwelivelile Mandela during the opening ceremony of CHAN,” CAF said.
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