The Algeria–Morocco football rivalry is a football rivalry between the national football teams of Algeria and Morocco, having achieved four Africa Cup of Nations and two Arab Cups between the two countries.
Background The football rivalry between Algeria and Morocco is deeply intertwined with the political standoff between the two nations. Relations between Algeria and Morocco have long been strained due to political differences due to the Sand War and feuds over Western Sahara, the latter saw Algeria backed the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic led by Polisario against Morocco. In 2021, Algeria and Morocco severed diplomatic ties and have maintained the standoff since.
Several football incidents have also been related to this standoff. During the 2022 Mediterranean Games in Oran, two Moroccan journalists were denied entry to watch Morocco's football games, sparking outrage in Morocco.https://www.newarab.com/analysis/how-football-fell-victim-algeria-and-moroccos-rivalry In 2023, then-defending champions Morocco withdrew from the 2022 African Nations Championship hosted in Algeria after Algeria refused to open airspace for Moroccan carrier. A year later, a supposed 2023–24 CAF Confederation Cup semi-final game between USM Alger and RS Berkane was unable to take part after a shirt dispute, with the Moroccan representative wearing their jerseys supporting Moroccan claim of Western Sahara; subsequently, USM Alger was disqualified and Berkane walked straight to the final. YearAlgeriaMoroccoQualificationRoundQualificationRound 1970Did not qualify – First round loserQualified – Final round winnerGroup stage 1982Qualified – Final round winnerGroup stageDid not qualify – Final round loser 1986Qualified – Final round winnerGroup stageQualified – Final round winnerRound of 16 1994Did not qualify – Second round loser Qualified – Second round winner Group stage 1998Did not qualify – First round loser Qualified – Final round winnerGroup stage 2010Qualified – Tiebreaking play-off winnerGroup stageDid not qualify – Third round loser 2014Qualified – Third round winnerRound of 16Did not qualify – Second round loser 2018Did not qualify – Third round loserQualified – Third round winnerGroup stage 2022Did not qualify – Third round loserQualified – Third round winnerFourth place 2026Qualified – CAF Group G winner Round of 32Qualified – CAF Group E winnerQuarter-Finals
Matches While both Algeria and Morocco are frequent participants in the Africa Cup of Nations, the two nations have only once participated together at the FIFA World Cup, which occurred in 1986. They've also faced just twice in the FIFA World Cup qualification, which occurred in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification.
#DateLocationHome TeamScoreAway teamCompetition1 Algiers, Algeria3–1Friendly2 Algiers, Algeria0–03 Casablanca, Morocco1–04 Algiers, Algeria2–25 Tunis, Tunisia3–11967 Mediterranean Games6 Casablanca, Morocco0–0Friendly7 Algiers, Algeria2–01970 African Cup of Nations qualification8 Agadir, Morocco1–09 Algiers, Algeria1–0Friendly10 Algiers, Algeria3–11972 African Cup of Nations qualification11 Casablanca, Morocco3–012 Algiers, Algeria2–0Friendly13 Casablanca, Morocco2–014 Algiers, Algeria0–015 Casablanca, Morocco1–51980 Summer Olympics qualification16 Algiers, Algeria3–017 Ibadan, Nigeria1–01980 African Cup of Nations18 Alexandria, Egypt0–01986 African Cup of Nations19 Casablanca, Morocco1–01988 African Cup of Nations20 Casablanca, Morocco1–1 21 Béjaïa, Algeria1–1Friendly22 Kenitra, Morocco1–023 Annaba, Algeria2–224 Casablanca, Morocco1–125 Rabat, Morocco0–026 Fes, Morocco2–12002 FIFA World Cup qualification27 Algiers, Algeria1–228 Sfax, Tunisia3–1 2004 African Cup of Nations29 Annaba, Algeria1–02012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification30 Marrakesh, Morocco4–031 Doha, Qatar2–2 2021 FIFA Arab Cup
See also Algeria–Morocco relations
References