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Qualified for the 2020 Africa Futsal Cup of Nations, currently held in Laayoune, the Mauritius team followed in the footsteps of South Africa, withdrawing from the competition.
«Mauritius is invited by its government to withdraw from the tournament», wrote Africa Top Sports on Thursday, calling the decisions «surprising».
Contacted by Yabiladi on Thursday, a source within the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) confirmed Mauritius’ decision, calling it «political». «This withdrawal does not make sense because the Mauritian team arrived in Laayoune and played their first game», said the same source who requested anonymity.
Indeed, the team of this island located in the Indian Ocean had already started the competition. It had played its first match against Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday evening, and lost (2-4) and was scheduled to play its second match on Thursday against Libya.
According to the same source, «it is possible that [the country] would have been pressured by South Africa, hence the decision». In mid-January, South Africa announced that it is boycotting the sports event, scheduled from January 28 to February 7 in Laayoune.
The country's football association has confirmed that it has been seized by the government of Cyril Ramaphosa, having «warned it that the place chosen is at the heart of a discord, which represents a great risk for the players».
The insular country which recognizes «SADR» since 1982
According to our source, «the ball is in the court of the CAF which must make a decision». Indeed, by leaving the competition, Mauritius may have to pay a fine imposed by the African Football Confederation (CAF), and could also be sanctioned.
This withdrawal from Mauritius comes after a large campaign waged by the Polisario Front and Algeria. Saturday, on the eve of the football match, the «minister» of Youth and Sports of the Polisario Front went to Algiers to meet his Algerian «counterpart» Sid Ali Khaldi.
At a press conference following this meeting, Moussa Salma, «minister» of Youth and Sports of the Polisario declared that «the Moroccan authorities endorse the violation of international law by organizing such competitions».
For the record, Mauritius has recognized the Polisario since July 1982. In 2014, its government announced the withdrawal of its recognition of the so-called «SADR».
However, a year later, and with the arrival of a new prime minister, the island reversed its decision, announcing the restoration of relations with the Polisario Front and the recognition of the so-called «SADR».
