CAN 2023: South Africa-Morocco, first controversy
South Africa denounces a lack of sporting fairness before the start of the CAN 2023 qualifiers. The Bafana Bafana federation considers Morocco to have an advantage in their group, due to an agreement reached with Liberia to play their double confrontation on Moroccan soil.
The start of the group phase of the CAN 2023 qualifiers has not yet been given that a first file is on the table of the Confederation of African Football. It concerns the teams of group K, made up of Morocco, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Liberia.
The Bafana Bafana seized the African football body to point out a lack of fairness and the fact that Morocco would be favored during these qualifiers. At the origin of this complaint, the agreement reached between the Moroccan and Liberian federations so that Liberia plays its playoff matches on Moroccan soil, for lack of a stadium approved by CAF.
Le match entre les Lone Stars et les Lions de l’Atlas qui aurait donc du se jouer au Liberia, si le pays disposait d’un stade homologué, va se tenir à Casablanca. Ce qui signifie que sur ses 6 matchs de cette phase de groupes, le Maroc va en disputer à minima 4 sur ses terres (les 3 initiaux à domicile + le « déplacement au Liberia », délocalisé au Maroc). Un scénario que déplore la Fédération sud-africaine de football. Dans son courrier adressé à la CAF, l’instance indique que la décision de la CAF de valider cet accord entre le Maroc et le Liberia pour ces éliminatoires de la CAN 2023 va à l’encontre des valeurs sportives.
Danny Jordaan, President of the South African Football Association
Lire sur le même sujet : CAN 2023-Eliminatoires : stades non-homologués, la CAF resserre la vis” The South African Football Federation by this letter, officially protests against this arrangement which goes against the principles of fair play, because the selection of Morocco will thus make fewer trips and will benefit much more from the advantages of receiving his opponents at home. And this much more than any other team in the group , ”noted the Bafana Bafana camp in particular. ” We understand the challenge of having standard stadiums on the continent, but we ask that this argument not be used to advantage some countries over others ,” the statement concluded.
One more complaint against a decision validated by CAF and which comes the day after Al Ahly’s announcement to seize the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The Egyptian club intends to challenge CAF’s choice to award the 2022 Champions League final to Morocco, while the team has a very good chance of competing for the title against Wydad Casablanca, which would then be advantaged with support mass of the public. While waiting to know the follow-up that will be given to these two files, this situation has given food for thought to certain observers who denounce the strong influence of Morocco behind the scenes of CAF.
Danny Jordaan, President of the South African Football Association
