Algerians and Moroccans linked by football and culture, divided by politics | OneFootball

Despite close cultural and sporting bonds, governmental relations are severed and the land border has been closed since 1994. Algeria are due to open their AFCON campaign in Rabat against Sudan on Wednesday, with organisers prioritising hospitality for the Fennecs.

According to L'Équipe, Algeria shut the frontier after Morocco imposed visas in 1994 following a Marrakech hotel attack that killed two and injured one, with Moroccan authorities suspecting Algerian intelligence involvement.

Tensions have since grown, with Western Sahara central. Morocco regards the territory as Moroccan, while Algeria backs its autonomy and the Polisario Front, a split sharpened after Donald Trump backed Morocco’s plan in 2020, later supported by Spain and France.

The fallout has reached football. In January 2024, RS Berkane’s shirts featuring a map including Western Sahara were seized before a CAF Confederation Cup semi-final with USM Alger, and the game was cancelled. Algerian officials said this broke FIFA’s ban on political symbols, Berkane said CAF had approved the kit. Berkane were later awarded a forfeit, before the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in USM Alger’s favour.

At CHAN 2023 in Algeria, Morocco withdrew after the host refused Royal Air Maroc overflight rights dating from the 2021 diplomatic rupture. A pro-independence speech by Nelson Mandela’s grandson at the opening ceremony heightened tensions, and Morocco asked CAF to condemn it.

Mehdi Dahak, DZfoot’s director, says social media distorts reality, pointing to intermarriage and mutual support, from Algeria’s AFCON 2019 triumph to backing at the Arab Cup.

Source: L'Équipe