All is not well between the Fennecs and the Algerian media present in Morocco . While they were enjoying a day off in Rabat for the New Year, the players of the Algerian national team were exasperated by the harassment of their journalists, who had turned into paparazzi for the occasion.
Leaders of their group, the Atlas Lions continue their quest for continental glory this Sunday in Rabat against Tanzania. But the final bracket of this CAN 2025 already outlines tantalizing prospects, with a potential explosive clash against Algeria in the semi-finals on the horizon.
A surreal incident marred the match between Algeria and Equatorial Guinea at the Moulay Hassan stadium in Rabat. The CAF was forced to intervene in the Fennecs’ dressing room to recover a match ball stolen by a member of the technical staff, caught on surveillance cameras.
The Taza court looked into a dark case of immigration fraud that has victimized many in the region on Monday. An Algerian national, presumed to be the mastermind of the operation, appeared for having, with the help of an accomplice, extracted astronomical sums from candidates for departure by promising them fake work contracts in Europe .
The "off-the-record" has gone viral and the method is causing a stir. An El Heddaf Algerian channel journalist was caught red-handed manipulating while dictating false criticisms about the organization of the CAN to supporters, unaware that his microphone was recording everything.
The "Little Prince of Raï" is under the charm. Settled in the Kingdom of which he now holds the nationality, the singer Faudel has hailed the exceptional quality of the organization of the 2025 CAN. The artist of Algerian origin has also wanted to deliver a message of appeasement and fraternity between the two neighboring peoples.
The atmosphere was electric at the Moulay Al-Hassan stadium in Rabat on Wednesday. While the Fennecs shone on the field by crushing Sudan (3-0), their Algerian supporters had to fight a completely different battle behind the scenes to reach the stands. Between diplomatic rupture, closed borders and new electronic visa requirements, the journey to the Kingdom has taken on the appearance of an odyssey.
The Algerian team successfully made their debut in the 2025 CAN by dominating Sudan (3-0). A victory widely reported by the official news agency Algerie Presse Service (APS), which however performed an editorial feat: reporting the facts, the scores and even the weather, without ever mentioning the name of Morocco, the host country of the competition.
The debut of Algeria in this CAN 2025 was marked by a stark contrast. While the Fennecs shone on the pitch by crushing Sudan (3-0), the pre-match was marred by scenes of chaos outside their hotel in Rabat, caused by a disorganized distribution of free tickets that required police intervention.
While social networks are flooded with videos advocating fraternity between Moroccans and Algerians on the sidelines of the 2025 AFCON, the political reality remains icy. Between the travel restrictions imposed by Algiers and the warnings of analysts, the "Khawa Khawa" atmosphere struggles to mask the persistent tensions surrounding this competition.
The Moroccan authorities proceeded, on Monday, to the expulsion of Kamel Mahoui, Algerian journalist of the Ennahar channel. Came to cover the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, he was checked without the official accreditation required by CAF, while he had already distinguished himself by virulent criticism on the organization of the tournament.
The enthusiasm for the Africa Cup of Nations is spreading across the northern borders of the Kingdom. Many Algerian supporters , mainly from the diaspora established in Europe, are currently crossing Sebta and Melilla to reach the Moroccan capital and support their national team.