a political dispute over Western Sahara leads to the cancellation of the African Cup match between Berkane and Algiers

The Moroccan club RS Berkane, which was to face USM Algiers on Sunday, wears on its jersey a map of Morocco including Western Sahara, whose independence is recognized by Algeria.

Having come to play the semi-final first leg of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup against USM Algiers on Sunday April 21, the RS Berkane players had their jerseys confiscated by customs at the airport. In question, the map of Morocco including Western Sahara, which appears on the Moroccan club’s shirts.

This territory, 80% controlled by Morocco, is claimed by the Sahrawi separatists of the Polisario Front, supported by Algeria. The match, which was to be held on Sunday evening, was ultimately canceled due to RS Berkane’s refusal to play with other jerseys.

CAF, requested by the Algerian Football Federation, stressed on Saturday that RS Berkane had been playing under its jersey flocked with the same card since the start of the tournament, and that it therefore authorized the club to wear it.

The president of the Algerian Federation, Wafi Sadi, then announced the provision of the Moroccan team to “high quality jerseys”, without the map of Morocco. But shortly before the match, the sports director of USM Alger, Toufik Korichi, announced on Algerian radio that the match was not going to be played, because of the Berkane club’s refusal to enter the field. field with jerseys other than those seized in Algiers.

The case brought “before the competent authorities”

“There will be no debate on this subject. No match without flocked jerseys with the complete map of the Kingdom of Morocco”, also told CAF officials, the president of the Moroccan club Hakim Benabdellah, quoted by the Moroccan media Hespress. In the evening, CAF affirmed that the match would ultimately not take place on Sunday, and that the matter “will be brought before the competent authorities”.

In 2021, Algeria broke off diplomatic relations with Morocco, its great regional rival, particularly because of the Western Sahara issue.