Morocco, the defending African Nations for Championships (CHAN) champion, has withdrawn from the tournament.
Their withdrawal comes just one day before the biennial tournament, which will be held in Algeria.
Ironically, their decision to leave the competition follows a standoff with the host nation over travel arrangements.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FMRF) insisted on a direct flight from Rabat to Constantine despite the suspension of direct flights between the two nations due to tensions.
Due to Morocco’s withdrawal, CAF will not have a defending champion for one of its premier events.
The 2022 edition of the tournament is now exclusively reserved for ‘local’ players, with three groups of only three competitors.
Groups D and E originally included Angola, Mali, and Mauritania, as well as Cameroon, Congo, and Niger. Group C members Ghana, Madagascar, and Sudan have now joined the list.
