Fouzi Lekjaa has secured re-election to the FIFA Council following a decisive vote during the 14th Extraordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo on March 12.
The president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation won a new term lasting until 2029, garnering 49 votes out of 54, ahead of rivals including Egypt’s Hani Abou Rida and Niger’s Djibrilla Hima Hamidou.
A surprising claim
Amid the aftermath of the election, Moroccan businessman Abdelmalek Abroun made a statement that sparked intrigue.
He claimed that Algeria, alongside Tunisia and South Africa, voted in favor of Morocco in the election.
This assertion raised eyebrows, given the ongoing diplomatic tensions between Algiers and Rabat, which have frequently extended into the realm of football.
Lack of official response
The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has yet to issue any official comment on Abroun’s claim.
As the voting process was conducted via secret ballot, verifying how individual nations cast their votes remains impossible.
Implications for African football
Fouzi Lekjaa’s re-election further cements his influential role within both CAF and FIFA.
His growing stature is seen as a strategic advantage for Morocco, particularly as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
Will Algeria respond?
It remains to be seen whether the FAF will respond to the claims or allow them to pass without comment.
With sporting relations between Algeria and Morocco often shaped by broader geopolitical tensions, this latest development adds another layer of complexity to their footballing ties.
