Algerian coach Adel Amrouch has stirred controversy with provocative statements and accusations against the Moroccan national team and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, just two days before the highly anticipated match between the two teams in the first round of Group Six of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
In an interview with an Algerian channel, Amrouch responded to a question about whether he had weapons to face the Moroccan team, especially after their recent defeat in the World Cup qualifiers, stating, “The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has become a formidable force in Africa, and it is the one controlling matters in African football.
We are closely watching now.”
Amrouch claimed that the Tanzanian national team requested to play the match against Morocco in the afternoon, but the Federation “imposed” scheduling it in the evening, stating, “They even choose the referees; this means you will play against a big team and other hidden factors.”
The speaker also hinted that the Royal Moroccan Football Federation intervened to cancel the Tanzanian national team’s training camp in Algeria.
The Moroccan football community strongly reacted to these statements, calling on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to investigate them.
They emphasized that these accusations not only harm the reputation of the continental body but also impact the image of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, which is gearing up to organize major sporting events, including the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025 and the World Cup in 2030.
The verbal exchange between the coaches has added extra tension and drama to the upcoming encounter, making it a highly anticipated and potentially contentious match in the Africa Cup of Nations.
