Lekjaa says only official response from CAF to settle Morocco’s participation in CHAN 2023
“Morocco is awaiting an official response from CAF concerning the authorization requested,” Lekjaa said in a response to questions from journalists during a press briefing he held following the government council meeting.
“Contrary to what has been promoted in the last 24 hours, Morocco has requested that the plane that will transport the national team next January obtain authorization to land at Constantine airport, the city in which the national team will play,” Lekjaa said.
Scheduled in Algeria from January 13 to February 4, 2023, the African Nations Championship 2022 will feature African teams of players playing in their national leagues, a competition where Morocco are the most decorated and successful in Africa since its start in 2007 with two titles.
The Moroccan federal body had demanded from CAF that the Cubs travel via a special flight of the Royal Air Morocco (RAM) official carrier from Rabat to Constantine, the host city of the games.
On Wednesday, the Algerian Local Organizing Committee for the CHAN 2022 voiced Algeria’s unwillingness to open its airspace for a direct flight from the Rabat to Constantine, where Morocco’s games are set to be played.
“We are obliged to ensure the movement of teams only on national territory,” said President of the Algerian Local Organizing Committee, Rachid Oukali.
“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,” he added.
