After their defeat in the quarter-finals against Nigeria, the players of the Algerian selection left Moroccan territory this Sunday evening. This departure, organized from Rabat airport, highlighted the logistical complexities linked to the breakdown in diplomatic relations between the two neighbors, forcing the delegation to request a third party company to return to Algiers.
The Fennecs’ sporting adventure came to an abrupt end after their 2-0 loss against the Super Eagles. For their return, the delegation had to charter an aircraft from the Tunisian company Nouvelair in order to circumvent the closure of airspace imposed by the Algerian authorities since September 2021. This restriction, which applies to all Moroccan aircraft and direct connections, forces travelers and officials to systematically transit through third countries such as Tunisia or France, thus increasing transport costs and delays.
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The climate surrounding this competition remains strongly marked by the regional geopolitical context. While the land borders between Morocco and Algeria have remained closed since 1994, the management of air flows during this CAN recalls the depth of the diplomatic crisis that began in August 2021.
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