CAF opens investigation into violations and events marring CHAN opening in Algeria

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Sunday the opening of investigations into the political statements made during the opening ceremony of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Algeria.

“According to its Statutes and Regulations and those of FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) must refrain from getting involved in politics and remain neutral on issues of a political nature”, indicates the continental football body in a press release released this Sunday.

“CAF has been informed of certain political statements issued during the opening ceremony of the TotalEnergies Algeria 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN) on Friday, January 13, 2023 in Algiers”, continues the same source.

“These political statements are not those of CAF and do not reflect a point of view or an opinion of CAF as a politically neutral organization”, wishes to specify the Confederation.

“CAF will conduct investigations to establish whether and to what extent the political statements and events of the opening ceremony of CHAN TotalEnergies Algeria 2022 violate the Statutes and Regulations of CAF and FIFA. She will report her findings in due course.

This exit from CAF comes in response to the alleged political exploitation of CHAN by the Algerian regime against Morocco.

During the kick-off of CHAN 2022, which was given on January 13 in Algeria, Zwelivelile Mandela, controversial grandson of Nelson Mandela was invited to speak during the opening ceremony to qualify “Western Sahara”. , of “the last colony in Africa” for which, he said, we must “go and fight”.

In Morocco, the reaction came from the side of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), which issued a press release on January 14 to call out “malicious acts and abject maneuvers” during the opening ceremony of CHAN 2022.

As a reminder, the Moroccan national team, double-holders of the continental title, was deprived of the championship this year by Algeria, which refused authorization for a direct Rabat-Constantine flight, thus derogating from the facilitation rules required by the CAF both for the participating teams and for their supporters.

Other incidents of a “racist” nature have been noted against Morocco, such as the songs of the Algerian public calling Moroccans “animals” to whom they should throw “bananas”.