As the Confederation of African Football prepares to elect the members of its Executive Committee in March, Algeria is launching a new campaign against Moroccan Fouzi Lekjaa. Fouzi Lekjaa is the target of a new campaign orchestrated by an Algerian media outlet. Canal Algérie (public television) accused the Minister for the Budget and President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation of «holding the Confederation of African Football hostage» through «the Pegasus software» and «drug trafficking money», without providing any proof. «An agent of the Makhzen infiltrated the African and international football authorities», declared an Algerian guest in a statement that seemed prepared in advance. African journalists, one Tunisian and one Cameroonian, also contributed to the Fouzi Lekjaa smear campaign. The Moroccan is portrayed as «a superman», capable, «thanks to his friends in the Zionist entity» and «drug money, notably the Sahara Escobar case», of destabilizing African countries, particularly in the Sahel, and «corrupting African leaders». FAF President's appointment as Sports Minister overshadowed This latest campaign against Fouzi Lekjaa comes as CAF prepares to elect the members of its Executive Committee on March 12, 2025. The President of the Algerian Football Federation, Walid Sadi, is a candidate for the North African zone. The way was clear for the Algerian to sit on the executive committee, particularly after the «withdrawal» of Tunisian Hussein Jenayah's candidacy. However, Sadi's appointment on November 17 as Minister of Sport in the Laarbaoui II government may well put a damper on his ambitions. FIFA and CAF are sports associations elected by members of national federations. Sports ministers are not welcome there. As a reminder, in December 2013, FIFA summoned the former Moroccan Minister of Youth and Sports, Mohamed Ouzzine, to reverse his decision to dissolve the FRMF board. By March 12, Walid Sadi is expected to choose between the Sports portfolio and the FAF presidency. In July 2023, Algerian media had asked the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to suspend the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), without success. Algeria has twice failed to gain access to the CAF executive committee, in 2017 against Fouzi Lekjaa, and in 2022 against a Libyan candidate backed by Morocco. In March 2021, the Moroccan also won the International Football Federation (FIFA) Council race against the former president of the Algerian Football Federation. These victories by Fouzi Lekjaa put an end to the mandates of three Algerian opponents at the head of the FAF, namely Mohamed Raouraoua, Kheireddine Zetchi, and Djahid Zefizef.
