The Algeria–Morocco football rivalry is a football rivalry between the national football teams of Algeria and Morocco, having achieved three 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. 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.
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.
Morocco lead the head-to-head record with 10 wins compared to Algeria's 9, with 11 other matches ended in draws.