Betway Premiership giants Mamelodi Sundowns found themselves stranded at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday, unable to board their chartered flight to Morocco for the second leg of their showdown against AS FAR Rabat.
According to the Marawa Scorpions, Kabo Yellow had gone through the full departure process, bags checked, immigration cleared, only to be turned back when it emerged that Morocco had refused to grant landing rights to Mamelodi Sundowns’ hired charter aircraft at Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca.
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A FULL DAY LOST FOR MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Upon arriving for their scheduled departure, Sundowns were informed that their travel plans would need to be revised because of issues surrounding the landing permit for their chartered aircraft.
The club from Tshwane had banked on arrival early to fully acclamitise in Rabat way before Sunday night’s second leg game at 21:00. Sundowns carry a 1-0 lead from the first leg at the Loftus Versfeld this past Sunday.
“The Marawa Scorpions report that Mamelodi Sundowns were due to travel to Morocco today BUT the players and technical Team members are back at their homes after spending a huge chunk of the day at the OR Tambo International Airport,” Robert Marawa reported on X. “The team had even gone through immigration!!!
“Morocco has not given Sundowns (hired charter) landing rights at Mohammed V International Airport. Not sure what’s next in this Morocco vs SA saga….”
THE BIGGER BACKDROP: MOROCCO VS SOUTH AFRICA
The incident is the latest flashpoint in what has become a deeply fractured Morocco versus South Africa football narrative surrounding this final.
The opening leg at Loftus Versfeld Stadium was marred by several incidents, including a malfunction in the VAR system that delayed the start of the second half, and violent clashes in the stands in which Moroccan fans reported being attacked by South African supporters and even stadium security.
One Moroccan supporter, named Amine, fell from the upper tier of the stadium during the unrest, suffering multiple fractures in his shoulder, arm, ribs, and hand, and remains under close medical care in Pretoria.
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