The Moroccan U17 national team will indeed be present at the CAN which will take place in Algeria. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation decided to take part in the tournament after initially threatening to boycott it.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has decided on the participation of the U17 selection in CAN 2023 which will take place in Algeria from April 29. Indeed, she decided to take part in the continental competition.
The media “Hespress”, according to a press release from the FRMF, reported that Fouzi Lekjaâ received, yesterday Friday, the young players of the U17 national team participating in the CAN. The head of the first instance of Moroccan football wanted to congratulate them after their qualification for the final phase of the CAN. He also asked them “to honor Moroccan football in this continental championship, and to present a level worthy of its reputation”. Lekjaâ underlined that the objective of the Moroccan U17 selection during CAF is to qualify for the U17 World Cup.
Thus, the Moroccans will indeed make the trip to Algeria. They will make a stopover in Tunis, before reaching Constantine, the host city.
As a reminder, the draw for the CAN U17 had placed the Moroccan selection in group B, alongside Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia.
READ ALSO: CAF verdict: Morocco and Algeria not sanctioned, what impact on CAN 2025?
The Moroccan U17 team will now be present at the CAN in Algeria #Sport #CAN #FRMF #U_17
— Hespress French (@HespressFr) April 21, 2023
Does Lekjaa fear CAF sanctions?
And yet, Fouzi Lekjaâ threatened to boycott CAN U17 in Algeria and thus repeat the coup of CHAN-2022. And for good reason, he demanded a direct flight Rabat-Constantine.
“We will boycott this competition if our team is not allowed to take a direct flight, as stipulated by CAF regulations”. He declared on March 6 to the local media “Radiomars”.
Apparently, the president of the FRMF would fear sanctions from the disciplinary committee of the African football confederation in the event of another boycott. This would be the reason why he backtracked after threatening to skip the trip to Algeria.
READ ALSO: Algeria / Morocco dispute CAF verdict: FRMF appeals
Faouzi Lekjaa on @RADIOMARSma :
– For the CAN U17 it is planned to travel to Algeria with a plane from the @RAM_Morocco
– The FRMF will appeal the decision of the CAF for the non-participation in CHAN (no official was named in the press release) pic.twitter.com/E0786qHDNO
— SOCCER212 (@SCCR_212) March 6, 2023
