the two rivals compete to host the headquarters of an organization – La Nouvelle Tribune

The historical rivalry between the Morocco et Algeriamanifested on the diplomatic, economic and sporting levels, continues to intensify. The two North African countries are in constant competition to establish their regional influence, whether through their divergent positions on the question of Sahara occidentaltheir opposing energy strategies or their ambitions for continental leadership. This fierce competition is now moving onto new terrain: hosting the headquarters of the African Football League, a competition created in 2022.

A new episode of the Maghreb rivalry

The Morocco et Algeria both filed their candidature to host the headquarters of the African Football League, reviving their traditional rivalry in the sporting field. South AfricaAlgiers’ ally on the continental scene, also presented its candidacy, while the Tunisia chose to withdraw its candidate from the CAF Executive Committee elections in favor of the Algerian Football Federation. Faced with the various applications, the League formed a technical commission responsible for evaluating on the ground the infrastructures proposed by each country.

The weight of sporting history

The organization of major sporting events constitutes a strategic issue for these rival nations. The awarding of CAN 2025 in 2023 perfectly illustrates this competitive dynamic. The Moroccan file then received a clearly favorable assessment from the German office mandated to examine the applications. This victory of Morocco in the race to organize the CAN 2025 still resonates in the corridors of African sports diplomacy, while the decision concerning the headquarters of the League looms.

A strategic battle for regional influence

The establishment of the headquarters of the African Football League represents much more than a simple administrative installation. For the Morocco as for Algeriait offers a privileged position at the heart of strategic decisions in continental football and strengthens their influence in African sports governance. This new confrontation between Rabat and Algiers reflects their determination to occupy a dominant position in African football. The outcome of this competition could redefine the balance of power in continental sport, while serving as a barometer to measure the respective influence of the two North African rivals.