Morocco, the winners of the last two editions of the African Nations Championship, withdrew from the tournament after the Algerian government rejected their direct flight request to travel to Constantine.
Algeria severed diplomatic ties with Morocco in 2021, citing hostile actions from their neighbours. The dispute meant that all direct flights between the two countries were suspended.
And while the Atlas Lions' under-23 team waited for hours at the Rabat-Sale airport, with CAF President Patrice Motsepe and FIFA President Gianni Infantino also in attendance, approval from the Algerian govt never came through.
(With AP inputs)
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