An African Confederation Cup match between USM Alger and Moroccan team Renaissance Berkane was abruptly cancelled just moments before kickoff on Sunday, sparking controversy over the Moroccan club’s jerseys. The dispute originated on Friday morning when the Moroccan squad arrived in Algeria for the first leg of the semi-final clash.
Algerian media outlets reported that customs officers seized Berkane’s shirts, citing the presence of a map of Morocco that included the disputed Western Sahara region. As tensions escalated, USM Alger’s sporting director, Toufik Korichi, revealed to Algerian radio shortly before the scheduled 1900 GMT kickoff that the match would not proceed as Berkane refused to take to the pitch in alternative shirts.
The Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, remains a contentious issue, predominantly controlled by Morocco but also claimed by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which advocates for the territory’s independence. This dispute has previously led to Algeria severing diplomatic ties with Morocco in 2021, partly due to this issue.
In response to an appeal filed by the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) against the shirts, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruled in favor of Berkane on Saturday, stating that the club had been using the same jerseys since the tournament’s commencement. FAF President Wafi Sadi then declared intentions to bring the case to the “international court of sport,” asserting, “Our position is clear, we will not back down, and we are ready for anything.”
Despite CAF’s rejection of the FAF appeal on Sunday, Sadi announced that the Moroccan team would be supplied with “high-quality shirts” devoid of the disputed map. However, Berkane stood firm in their stance, with club president Hakim Benabdellah stating, “There will be no debate on this subject. There will be no match without shirts with the complete map of the Kingdom of Morocco,” as reported by Moroccan media outlet Hespress. The match cancellation leaves the fate of the encounter uncertain, highlighting the complexities surrounding this regional and political controversy.
