Defending champions Morocco withdraw from 2023 edition

African Nations Championship (CHAN) champions Morocco have withdrawn from the 2023 edition slated for Algeria.

The Atlas Lions decided to stay away from the competition after they were denied a direct flight by their neighbours.

According to a bbcsports report, Diplomatic ties between the two north African giants were severed by Algeria in 2021, with all direct flights between the two countries suspended as a result.

Morocco's withdrawn comes after the country had threatened through the Moroccan Football Federation (FMRF) not to attend unless they could fly directly from their capital, Rabat, aboard the country's national airline, Royal Air Maroc (RAM) back in December last year.

having won the tournament back-to-back in 2018 and 2020, the Atlas Lions were getting ready to defend the crown starting on Sunday against Sudan.

However, FMRF confirmed that CAF failure to assure them of a place to land from Morocco means the won't be a part of the tournament this year.

"(We) were informed on December 22 by Caf that an authorisation in principle had been obtained," FMRF said in a statement per BBC. "The obtaining of the final authorization has unfortunately not been confirmed by Caf.

"The FRMF has communicated the details of the flight plan and coordinates in order to obtain final authorization for the RAM flight from Rabat and continued the preparation of the trip and the participation in CHAN."

Morocco played two friendlies against Ethiopia at their training camp in Salé this week ahead of the flight they expected to take directly to Constantine, where they were to be based for the tournament.