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Join on Telegram Rabat – Algerian football fans have launched a hostile campaign against Moroccan beIN Sports commentator Jaouad Bedda, who condemned Morocco’s non-participation in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Algeria.
Bedda responded to claims and reports, suggesting that Morocco has withdrawn from the CHAN tournament, saying: “To clarify and correct some things, regarding what happened yesterday, Morocco did not withdraw from CHAN.”
Bedda made his remarks while commenting on the Cameroon-Congo match as part of the CHAN tournament on Monday.
The CHAN continental tournament kicked off on Friday, January 13.
The Moroccan commentator also commented on reports, suggesting that Morocco lost its Sunday match against Sudan by 3-0, stressing that the “CAF website does not recognize” the score promoted by other websites.
On Sunday, January 15, a CAF referee sparked uproar after awarding a 3-0 score to Sudan in Sunday’s game after Morocco’s inability to participate in its first match of Sunday’s fixture.
“Morocco is not considered to have withdrawn, but was unable to travel before the start of the tournament,” Bedda said.
Algeria’s regime rejected the Moroccan request that sought to allow the Atlas Lions to travel directly from Rabat to Constantine using a Royal Air Maroc flight.
Bedda also emphasized that the CHAN tournament is proceeding without leading national teams in Africa, including Morocco, Egypt, and Tunisia.
Bedda’s comments angered Algerian football fans, who launched a hostile campaign against the Moroccan commentator.
“Stay tuned to watch a response against Jaouad Bedda with poetry,” an Algerian football fan said on Facebook.
Another football fan called on the organizing committee from CHAN to issue a communique to “condemn” Bedda’s remarks.
“The Moroccan commentator, Jaouad Bedda, is provocative. You can feel that all his words are directed against Algeria,” another one wrote.
In response to the hostile remarks targeting the Moroccan commentator, Moroccan football fans took to social networks to launch a campaign to support Bedda.
“We are all Jaouad Bedda,” one Twitter user wrote.
Another one said: “Since when telling the truth is a temptation. Morocco did not withdraw. Algeria has become Africa’s cancer. It only serves European colonialism. We are all Jaouad Bedda,” another one said.
Some Moroccan internet users also launched the #كلنا جواد بادة (We are all Jaouad Bedda) to express their support for the Moroccan commentator.
