CAF approves RS Berkane's jersey with full map of Morocco, sparking anger in Algeria

The Confederation of African Football's (CAF) Competitions Committee has approved Renaissance Sportive de Berkane's jersey, which features a map of Morocco, including the Sahara. This decision has drawn condemnation from the Algerian sports press, with some outlets labeling it a «CAF scandal» and a «blow» to Algeria.

The Algerian reaction stems from a previous incident in August 2023, when RS Berkane was denied permission to wear their traditional jersey with the full map of Morocco during a CAF Confederation Cup match against Benin's Dadjè.

In light of the recent CAF decision, Algerian authorities have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. Officials from RS Berkane and USMA (Union Sportive de la Médina d'Alger) are scheduled to appear before CAS judges on November 12th. A final verdict is expected in the coming months.

Both USMA and CS Constantine are competing in the group stage of the 2024-2025 CAF Cup, alongside RS Berkane. This raises the possibility of a Moroccan-Algerian clash in the semi-finals, similar to the previous year's CAF Cup encounter.