Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
As Morocco prepares to host the 2025 AFCON a month from now, the whole country’s focus will be on the Atlas Lions as they embark on yet another quest to finally win the continental title, this time on home soil.
Among the 23 other participating teams, one in particular will catch their attention, that of Algeria and the thousands of its supporters who will flock to the kingdom to cheer the Fennecs. The reasons are multiple, but when put together they all give a picture about the complex love-hate relationship between the two peoples.
This AFCON comes at a moment of high tension between the two governments not only over the issue Western Sahara, traditionally the main source of contention between Rabat and Algiers, but also over mutual accusation of cultural heritage appropriation and a fierce competition to exert influence in Africa through football. This tension saw the peoples of the two countries, who previously managed to build bridges that counterbalanced the decades-long cold relations, get actively engaged in, especially on social media, by constantly attacking and smearing one another.
Had Morocco hosted the event six or eight years ago, we would probably have seen plenty of Moroccan fans along with their Algerian counterparts, cheering for Les Verts and vice versa. But now, though it may be expected to see fans from both countries supporting each other’s team, things are quite different.
Politization, Brotherhood and Fair Play
When it comes to sports, and football in particular, games between Morocco and Algeria are highly politicized. But despite this politicization, there were two major differences between the past and today. In the past, there was more fair play as the losing team and its fans were more open to accepting defeat in a dignified manner, congratulating the winning side and acknowledging that it was the better of the two. This can be highlighted by these two incidents: Morocco’s crushing loss to Algeria 1- 5 in 1979 in Casablanca, and the Atlas Lions’s resounding 4-0 victory over the Fennecs in 2011 in Marrakech.
The rivalry between the two neighbors did not prevent them from rooting for one another when they faced other opponents, as if in accordance with the old Arab proverb: “I against my brother; I and my brother against my cousin; I and my brother and my cousin against the world”. This was the case when Algeria qualified to the 2010 World Cup after a highly tense match-up against Egypt that resulted in a diplomatic row between Cairo and Algiers.
Moroccans were also happy for their Algerian brothers when the Fennecs were crowned AFCON champions in 2019, with many Algerians returning the favor in the 2022 World Cup after the Atlas Lions reached the tournament’s semi-final.
My Enemy’s Friend is My Friend
Things have dramatically over the years changed because of the continuous degradation of relations between Rabat and Algiers, and the amount of hate constantly being spewed on social media by each side. This is fed by influencers from both countries or even abroad who made a career out of fanning the flames of discord and driving a wedge between the two neighbors.
As a result, sports events in which Moroccan and Algerian teams are taking part have turned into an excuse for a segment of the population from both countries to support opposing teams.
During the last AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast, football fans from each country were jubilant and exchanged mockery as both teams were knocked out of the competition early on. The scenes of such fans taking to the street celebrating, not their team’s victory, but rather somebody else’s loss, was a testament of the animosity that has been spreading among citizens of both sides.
It is this animosity that hovers like a specter over the upcoming AFCON in Morocco. And even though it is hard to say for sure how much this hostility that some express is representative of how most Moroccans and Algerians think, it seems clear that those who propagate this ill-feeling are the loudest.
Cut from the Same Cloth
As much as haters are going to hate no matter what, for many Moroccans and Algerians, tied with each other by bonds of friendship and marriage, the event will be an opportunity to get together and show that all the hostility spread on social media does not tell the whole story about two people many see as one.
For other citizens from both sides who have not had a chance to interact with one another, or have been caught up by the endless bombardment of negative content online depicting each side in the worst way possible, it is a golden chance to be reminded of some basic, but unfortunately sometimes forgotten, facts.
Culturally and historically Algerians and Moroccans share a lot, from tribal origins, language and customs, to historical figures and tribal groups that left long-lasting imprints on the political, cultural and spiritual life in the whole Maghreb region.
The colonial era united the people of both countries in a shared fight to gain independence, while personalities of Moroccan and Algerian origins influenced the course of political and cultural life on both sides of the border.
For example, both parents of Ahmed Ben Bella – Algeria’s first post-Independence president – were Moroccan. Former Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika was born in Morocco as was the case with several other high Algerian officials, some of them were of Moroccan descent.
On the Moroccan side one can cite the Kingdom’s late historian Abdelouahab Benmansour, the emblematic political figure and former leader of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) Abdelkrim El Khatib, and the former leader of the Moroccan Communist Party which later on became the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS) Ali Yaata. All three had Algerian roots.
Just like politicians and intellectuals, there are several football players with Moroccan and Algerian heritage who could have represented either side. Among them include big stars such as former Morocco captain Mehdi Benatia, current Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez, and other names from the men, women and youth categories like Ismael Bennacer, Anissa Lahmari, Amine El Ouazzani, and Yanis Benchaouch.
A Chance for Rapprochement
Remembering these commonalities will make AFCON an opportunity to re-build bridges, connect with one another, and send a message of hope that Maghreb unity is still alive amid the frozen diplomatic relations, online hate and belligerent rhetoric that drive Moroccans and Algerians further apart.
It will be great if what prevails during AFCON between the two sides is the notion of fraternity and unity expressed candidly and beautifully by Arabic phrases such as “Khawa Khawa’’ (we are brothers), and “khatinasiyassa’’ (political problems are of no concern to us).
While these problems will unfortunately continue as long as political disputes are not resolved, and for some they cannot be swept under the rug, then at least those issues can be momentarily set aside as the Moroccan adage goes: “Laadawa tabta w swab ykoun’’ (Rivalry remains but we should show good manners).
Certainly not all rivalry should be seen through negative lenses. When asked about the AFCON 2025, French-Algerian football legend Karim Benzema, who has an affinity for both countries, expressed his wish to see a Moroccan-Algerian face off in the final.
History shows that North African teams always performed better when the tournament was hosted in the region, and such a scenario is likely to happen. If Benzema’s wish becomes a reality, it can probably be an opportunity to invite the Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune to attend the game which can be the start of a process to warm up the extremely cold bilateral relations.
Whether this materializes is yet to be seen. What is important for Moroccans is to win the title regardless of who the opponent in the final is. Realizing that, will be the icing on the cake after a series of achievements that sent Moroccan football fans to the streets celebrating and singing the famous Algerian song (though many may not be aware of it) by the late artist Rabah Driassa: “Mabrouk alina. Hadi lbidaya, mazalmazal”. (Good for us. This is only the beginning. More is yet to come).
