Cairo, 15/01/2023 (MAP) – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that it will open an investigation to establish the extent to which political statements and events at the opening ceremony of the African Nations Championship for local players (CHAN) in Algeria violate the Statutes and Regulations of CAF and FIFA.

In a statement published Sunday on its website, CAF said it has been informed of certain political statements made during the opening ceremony of the CHAN in Algeria, stressing that it will investigate to what extent these actions violate the Statutes and Regulations of CAF and FIFA.

CAF is under an obligation and a duty, in accordance with its Regulations and Statutes and those of FIFA not to participate or get involved in politics and to be neutral on matters of a political nature, added the same source.

These political statements are not the statements of CAF and do not reflect the views or opinions of CAF as a politically neutral organisation, insisted the African football body.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) had denounced and strongly condemned the « malicious acts » and « despicable maneuvers » that marred the opening of the African Nations Championship for local players (CHAN), Friday in Algeria.

The FRMF addressed a correspondence to CAF which is called upon to « assume all the responsibility in front of these flagrant transgressions which have no link with the principles and values of football ».