Moroccan side Renaissance Berkane has been granted a 3-0 victory over USM Alger in the initial leg of their Caf Confederation Cup semi-final, despite their refusal to participate due to the confiscation of their kit by Algerian customs officials.
The jersey intended for Berkane’s use features an expanded map of Morocco, encompassing the disputed territory of Western Sahara. This inclusion is viewed by Algeria as a political provocation, leading officials to seize the kit upon Berkane’s arrival in the country last Friday.
During the aborted first leg on Sunday, the hosts, USM Alger, took to the field as scheduled, while Berkane remained in their dressing room, prompting the cancellation of the match.
Berkane has consistently sported the same jersey throughout this season’s competition, along with a similar design in previous continental campaigns.
In response to the incident, the Confederation of African Football’s interclub competitions committee has opted to award Berkane the victory and has referred the case to a disciplinary commission for potential further sanctions.
A Caf spokesperson clarified that the matter was addressed by independent structures separate from the governing body’s administration. They emphasized that Caf itself does not hold a stance on the issue.
The second leg of the semi-final is scheduled to take place in Berkane on Sunday.
