Fouzi Lekjaa extends a hand to Algerian fans
Political tension between Morocco and Algeria has been high in recent years due to political disagreements on very important issues such as sovereignty over Western Sahara, a territory claimed by the Moroccan kingdom.
This political tension has spread to other areas, such as the economy, society and even sport, despite the fact that Morocco has reached out on many occasions to bring the two countries closer together and restore good relations between the neighbouring Maghreb countries, including on several occasions by the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI.
Now it is Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, who is seeking to bring Morocco and Algeria closer together.
The Moroccan sports leader told L'Équipe that ‘Algerian fans will be welcome in Morocco’ for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in the Moroccan kingdom.
The Algerian national team will play its group stage matches at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, and Morocco intends to offer a very hospitable welcome.
Fouzi Lekjaa promised Algerian fans a warm reception during the Africa Cup of Nations, highlighting the ties of respect that exist between Moroccan and Algerian societies.
In this regard, the head of Moroccan football recalled that King Mohammed VI has reached out to Algeria on several occasions in recent years to foster good relations with its Maghreb neighbour: ‘His Majesty the King has always affirmed that Morocco has been and always will be a country that embraces its Algerian brothers’.
‘Algerian families live peacefully in Moroccan society and their presence reflects the deep human and fraternal ties that unite us,’ explained Fouzi Lekjaa. ‘They will be welcomed with warmth and affection, as they always have been,’ he added.
The president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation wants the 2025 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations to be a showcase for Moroccan hospitality and African unity. And this includes the warm welcome and reception of Algerian fans. ‘Algerian families live here and know the quality of coexistence,’ said Fouzi Lekjaa.
Aware of the political tension between Rabat and Algiers, the head of Moroccan football is committed to sport as a unifying force and a vehicle for rapprochement: ‘Algerian fans will be welcomed with the same warm hospitality.’
Algeria qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco without losing a single match. They topped Group E with five wins and a draw against Togo, Equatorial Guinea and Liberia, and are in good form.
This will be their 20th appearance in the tournament. They have won it twice: as hosts in 1990 and in 2019. But after disappointing early exits in 2021 and 2023, they are looking to perform well in the next edition.
Algeria, drawn in a group with Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan, is widely seen as the favourite to advance to the next stage of the Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
