CHAN 2023: Amaju Pinnick laments over Morocco’s denial to defend title 

By Wale Mustapha

Amaju Melvin Pinnick, a member of FIFA Council has lend his voice on the Algeria’s decision to deny Morocco participate in the Africa Nations Championship, CHAN taking place in Algiers.

Morocco are back-to-back CHAN champions, but will not be in the Algiers for the 2023 edition to defend their continental title following an unresolved political impasse between the North African nations.

On Tuesday, Pinnick who is also the former Nigeria Football Federation president and an executive committee of Confederation of African Football, CAF, NFF blamed the situation on selfish politics than football interest.

“As a member of the world football family and stakeholder in African football, I am concerned that Morocco, the defending champion of the African Nations Championship, CHAN, was hindered from participating in the  2023 edition of the tournament holding in Algeria,” Pinnick disclosed in a statement.

“According to the Moroccan Football Federation, it was compelled to withdraw from the tournament when the Algerian authorities failed to grant clearance to Air Maroc, the official airline of the Moroccan team, to access the Constantine Airport in Algeria, 24 hours to the kick off, after the Algerian authorities had assured the Confederation of African Football, CAF, that it would and CAF in turn had conveyed same assurance to the Moroccan Football Federation.

“Even more disturbing were the political remarks at the opening ceremony and xenophobic chants by Algerian fans.

“While not interfering in any political issues that may exist between both countries, we must be reminded that football promotes world unity and peace and all member countries of FIFA and indeed nations which bid to host events should accordingly be willing and ready to act with the same understanding.”

Displeased by the situation, Pinnick insists that football stakeholders must preserve the values round leather game at all cost just as he called on CAF and  FIFA to apply necessary measures to forestall future occurrence.

“As has been repeatedly admonished by FIFA and most recently by President Gianni Infantino and Secretary Fatma Samoura at the just concluded FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, we must focus on football and not drag the game into every ideological or political differences that may exist between nations,” he continued.

“I am therefore saddened by these occurrences at the African Nations Championship, a very important tournament in the calendar of African football for the development of home based players.

“I believe that the leadership of CAF and FIFA would apply necessary measures as captured in the relevant articles in the FIFA Statutes to serve as deterrence against future occurrence and to preserve the beautiful game,” he concluded.