Algerian side USM Alger recorded a 3-0 defeat against their Morrocan opponents RS Berkane in the semi-final first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup despite the latter refusing to play.
Authorities ruled in favour of the boycotters because, after much deliberation, they were found not guilty of their actions.
This is because customs officers confiscated kits of RS Berkane owing to the design which appears to be a taboo following a long-standing dispute between the two countries of the teams involved.
The jersey features an extended map of Morocco that includes the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
Algeria deemed the map as a political provocation, leading to the confiscation of the kit upon Berkane’s arrival in the country.
Eventually, even though, USM Alger were ready on the pitch, their opponents refused to show up citing the seizure of the kits as their reason. This is why, they will now welcome their opponents with full advantage and destiny completely in their hands in the second leg.
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But why were Algeria unsatisfied with the map on the jersey?
Tensions between Algeria and Morocco have remained tense for numerous years, with Algeria cutting off diplomatic relations in 2021.
Morocco asserted its claim over Western Sahara in 1957, during the period when the region was still under Spanish colonial control, before ultimately annexing it in 1975.
In response, the Polisario Front – a Sahrawi nationalist and Arab socialist group with the primary objective of securing the independence of Western Sahara from Moroccan control – declared the establishment of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in 1976, establishing a government in exile in Algeria.
Following a 16-year insurgency, a ceasefire was brokered by the United Nations in 1991, temporarily easing hostilities between the parties involved.
Why is Western Sahara the bone of contention?
Western Sahara is a point of contention due to its sparse population, significant phosphate reserves, and abundant fishing resources. The territory has been embroiled in a prolonged dispute between Morocco and the indigenous Sahrawi population, represented by the Polisario Front backed by Algeria.
Additionally, Western Sahara is thought to harbour untapped offshore oil reserves, further intensifying the dispute over its sovereignty.
How the dispute has affected football
Apart from the confiscation of RS Berkane kits leading to the boycott of the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup, Morocco’s local national team pulled out of the 2023 African Nations Championship.
The reason was due to Algeria’s refusal to allow the team to fly directly from Rabat to the host country’s territory.
This is because, as part of severing diplomatic ties in 2021, all direct flights between the two countries were suspended.
The border between Algeria and Morocco has also been closed since 1994.
It is also believed that Algeria may boycott the 2030 World Cup which Morocco is co-hosting with Spain and Portugal.
Meanwhile Ghana’s Dreams FC will not think much about whom to face if they make it to the final as they remain focused on beating Zamalek in the second leg of the other semi-final tie in Kumasi.
They succeeded in holding their opponents to a scoreless draw in the first leg at the Cairo International Stadium last Sunday.
Should they sail through to the final, Karim Zito’s men will be the first Ghanaian side to do so since 2004.