Rabat – Olympic Safi defender and Algerian international Houari Farhani found himself at the center of controversy during yesterday’s first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final against USM Alger after wearing a shirt that did not feature the Moroccan flag.
Images from the game spread quickly online, sparking anger among Moroccan fans.
Farhani later responded in a video explaining what happened. “I did not know that the shirt did not carry the Moroccan flag, and the equipment manager did not notice it either,” he said.
“The captain raised the issue before the second half and informed me. I then asked for another shirt with the Moroccan flag.”
“Thank God, I feel good in Morocco, which I consider my second home,” Farhani added.
Issue fixed during the match
⛔ هواري_فرحاني لاعب أولمبيك آسفي يعتذر ويوضح حقيقة إزالة العلم المغربي 🇲🇦 من القميص
بما أنه خرج بفيديو من الجزائر وبسرعة باش يوضح كنشوف أنها نقطة تحسب له
شنو بان ليكم؟ pic.twitter.com/uIWDuM8wzz— عصام العزيزي (@IssamElazizi) April 11, 2026
The situation did not last long. The issue was raised before the second half, and Farhani changed his shirt.
Club president Mohamed El Hidaoui also addressed the incident.
“I would like to clarify an important point regarding the first leg,” he wrote in a Facebook post. “A technical issue between our equipment supplier and the team’s kit manager led to this situation, and it was resolved during the second half.”
El Hidaoui rejected any suggestion of refusal.“Houari never refused to wear the shirt. On the contrary, he considers Morocco his second home and is very attached to our jersey.”
Farhani then called for calm, “To those who want to create problems, I say: God is my witness and protector,” urging fans to focus on the return leg.
Not an isolated reaction
The strong reaction was not limited to the missing flag. It also reflects a wider context that has been building in recent years.
Similar tensions have appeared around matches between Moroccan and Algerian sides, often linked to symbols, maps, and identity.
One of the latest examples came in April 2024, ahead of RS Berkane’s Confederation Cup semi-final against the same club, USM Alger, in Algiers, when Algerian customs confiscated Berkane’s kit featuring a Moroccan map upon the team’s arrival on April 19. As a result, the first leg scheduled on April 21 did not take place.
CAF later sanctioned USM Alger with a 3-0 forfeit, then awarded a 3-0 forfeit in the return leg, sending Berkane through the final.
The case later reached CAS, which ruled in February 2025 that the shirt design breached CAF rules because of its political nature, while leaving the match results unchanged.
These cases show how quickly football details can turn into political issues.
On the field, the match ended 0-0. Neither Olympic Safi nor USM Alger found a breakthrough, leaving everything open for the second leg.
The return match will take place next week in Safi. The winner will advance to the final, where they will face either Zamalek or CR Belouizdad.
Read also: TAS Leaves Algeria in Dismay After Verdict Rejecting RS Berkane Victory Annulment