HIBAPRESS – Ahmed Al-Musaed
Even the most pessimistic in the editorial rooms of Algerian channels did not expect that the "propaganda" used to disparage Morocco's efforts in organizing the 2026 African Cup of Nations would turn into a "backfire" that made media platforms a source of global ridicule. With the start of the tournament, and the failure of the "logistical collapse" prophecies, the media discourse moved to a new chapter of "fantasy," accusing behind-the-scenes maneuvering within the corridors of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the excuse that made the continent laugh.
As soon as Morocco amazed the world with a dazzling opening ceremony and stadiums with "World Cup" specifications, the Algerian media rushed to export a new narrative: "This is not a Moroccan success, but rather the result of behind-the-scenes maneuvering within the CAF corridors." The talk was no longer about the quality of the grass or the accuracy of the television transmission, but rather focused on the idea that "Morocco bought the silence of the continent." This approach triggered a wave of digital mockery; one follower commented: "It seems that the Moroccan maneuvering has reached the point of controlling the weather, the quality of 4K broadcasting, and even the speed of the high-speed train!" In the Algerian channel studios, "CAF" is portrayed as a branch of the Moroccan administration, where conspiracies are hatched in dark rooms. But the ironic thing is that this alleged "maneuvering" did not prevent the African teams from praising the reception and the facilities. While the analyst on television screams: "They stole the tournament through maneuvering!" the camera on the other side was conveying global football celebrities expressing their amazement at the infrastructure in the Kingdom. The accusations of maneuvering have turned into "rich material" for content creators, as videos comparing Hafid Derradji's screaming about the "conspiracy" with the calm of the African fan enjoying world-class facilities have spread. One activist sarcastically wrote: "The Algerian media convinced us for months that the stadiums were made of cardboard, and today, when the world saw them real, they said it was 'digital visual maneuvering'… respect our minds!" The attempt to link every organizational success to "dark corridors" reflects an inability to keep pace with development, as "maneuvering" does not build world-class stadiums, nor does it organize the movement of thousands of fans smoothly. The escape to accuse the African Union of corruption every time the "neighbor" succeeds has put the Algerian media in a clash not only with Morocco, but with the entire African continent, which saw in the Moroccan organization a pride for all Africans. The tournament will end, and history will record the stadiums and goals, and the archives of the Algerian channels will remain witnesses to the "strangest coverage in football history," where sports analysis was replaced by "corridor" stories, and journalism turned into a puppet theater that amuses the viewers more than it interests them.
