Minister Belkhayat urges Morocco and Algeria to play it 'clean'

Eslam Omar, Tuesday 3 May 2011

Moroccan Minister of Youth and Sports Moncef Belkhayat urges the Moroccan and Algerian national teams to play clean when they clash for a place in the 2012 African Cup of Nations

Algeria team
Algeria players celebrate their home victory

Moroccan Minister of Youth and Sports Mr. Moncef Belkhayat has urged Morocco and Algeria to keep it clean in their highly anticipated 2012 African Cup of Nations (ACN) qualifier.

The second-leg qualifying clash to, Guinea and Gabon edition of the ACN, is scheduled to be held in Marrakesh on 4 June.

“We will host the Algerian team with lots of friendship and brotherhood emotions” Belkhayat said in the 34th meeting of Moroccan Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Algeria who qualified for the 2010 World Cup Finals, defeated North African rival Morocco 1-0 in the first-leg last March. Hassan Yebda netted a seventh-minute penalty for the home team to settle the match, leaving all four teams in Group D locked on four points from three games.

Morocco coach Eric Gerets and his players blamed referee Seechum Rajindraparsad from Mauritius for their 1-0 loss.

“We are hoping to see a good football game and we wish good luck for the better team,” Belkhayat added.

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