Rabat - In an interview that aired on Algerian Al Haddaf TV, former Algerian football Lakhdar Belloumi said that he refused the offer to become the ambassador of Morocco’s 2026 World Cup.
Rabat – In an interview that aired on Algerian Al Haddaf TV, former Algerian football Lakhdar Belloumi said that he refused the offer to become the ambassador of Morocco’s 2026 World Cup.
The offer, according to Algerian news source Algerie-focus, was addressed to Belloumi by Hicham El Amrani, member of Morocco’s 2026 bid committee. After receiving the invitation, Belloumi declined the offer to avoid contradiction with “the decisions of the high instances,” referring to the official Algerian position, a close source told Algerie Focus.
The Algerian legendary footballer said in the interview that he refused Morocco’s offer because “it is a shame to leave his country to work somewhere else.” He also expressed his disappointment over being offered a job opportunity, while he was not offered an employment in Algeria.
Morocco’s offer is part of its strategy to appoint renowned public figures and football stars as ambassadors from all over the world to campaign and promote its bid.
In January, Morocco appointed Samuel Eto’o as one of its bid ambassadors. The former Barcelona and Inter Milan star is said to be a fervent supporter of Morocco’s candidacy.
Morocco’s World Cup bid is impressing the world. Many countries have expressed their unconditional support for Morocco’s candidacy. The list of Morocco’s supporters includes: Qatar, Belgium, Russia, Luxembourg, France, Tunisia, Nigeria, and Serbia.
Last month, Kheireddine Zetchi, president of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) told Algerian TV channel Ennahar that “Algeria will stand with Morocco and help it to clinch the rights to host the World Cup” on the sidelines of the 40th Ordinary General Assembly, which took place in Casablanca on Friday, February 2.
