Tanzanian Coach Faces CAF Hearing Over Controversial Remarks Toward Morocco
Adil Amrouche, the coach of the Tanzanian men's national team, is set to undergo a disciplinary hearing with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Thursday following contentious statements made about the Moroccan Football Federation.
Amrouche, originally from Algeria, boldly asserted that the Moroccan federation exerts undue influence over CAF matters and implicitly cast doubt on the fairness of officiating assignments leading up to Morocco's 3-0 victory over Tanzania in the recent Africa Cup of Nations.
Specifically, Amrouche accused the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, led by Faouzi Lekjaa, of becoming a dominant force in African football, asserting that they "run matters" in the continent's football affairs. He further claimed that Morocco orchestrated a change in the match schedule, shifting from a midday kickoff to an evening start time, and hand-picked the referees for the game.
Amrouche's provocative statements have prompted CAF to convene a disciplinary hearing, with potential sanctions looming for the outspoken coach. The disciplinary committee is anticipated to take a strong stance, considering that Amrouche impugned the integrity of crucial decision-making bodies within CAF.
In response to Amrouche's pre-match comments, Morocco delivered a resounding 3-0 victory over Tanzania in the opening AFCON group stage match. Now, Amrouche must address the controversial accusations before CAF authorities during Thursday's hearing.