Morocco announced on Thursday (January 12), a day before the event, that it was withdrawing in response to hosts Algeria rejecting its request for a direct flight.

A few hours later the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a U-turn saying that "the Moroccan national team will travel tomorrow to Algeria to participate in CHAN," adding "the departure will be from Sale airport."

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) had demanded a direct Royal Air Maroc flight from Rabat to Constantine, which it believed had been "accepted in principle" by the Confederation of African Football.

Morocco had claimed in announcing their withdrawal that the move had "not reached the final authorisation."

Photos posted on the Moroccan national football team’s social media accounts showed players waiting at the airport, with Mohamed Makrouf, adviser to the President of the Moroccan Federation saying the "players were training" and would go as soon as the flight was authorised, as reported by Africa News.

BBC Sport Africa reported Royal Moroccan Football Federation President Faouzi Lekjaa outside the airport as saying: "What we are experiencing today, (with) the Moroccan national team present in the waiting room of the airport, is a pity.

"Young people have worked for years and prepared for this championship for months, and prepared on all sides to participate in the championship and to defend the title as well."

Morocco are scheduled to feature in Group C alongside Sudan, Madagascar and Ghana.

Unlike the African Cup of Nations, the CHAN is a tournament where countries are required to field only domestic-based players.

No official statements confirming Morocco’s situation have been made by either the Royal Moroccan Football Federation or the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

insidethegames has contacted the CAF for clarification on the situation and a comment.