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The African Handball Confederation (CAHB) has withdrawnÌý and 's rightsÌýto host the 2022 and 2024 Men'sÌýAfrican Handball Championships over an ongoing political rift between the two countries, reported °®Âþµº's Arabic edition, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

The decision comes after the championship was postponed twice. The 2022 men’s tournament was scheduled to take place in the North African kingdom from 13 to 23 January this year.

Then in July,Ìýthe cities of Guelmim and Laayoune, which are located in the disputedÌý territory of Morocco - and where Algeria has supported armed separatists - were also due to host games.

The ÌýHandball Federation allegedly appealed the decision due to the tournament's location in the region, reported the Francophone Moroccan daily Telquel.

A new host nation and competition period for this year’s competition are yet to be determined. The championship serves as a qualifying tournament for the 2023 World Men's Championship in Poland and Sweden.

Officials said that the comes after the "extra-sporting differences that have deeply tainted relations between the Royal Moroccan Handball Federation (FRMHB) and the Algerian Handball Federation (FAHB)", according to Telquel.

"It follows that despite the efforts made to avoid the boycott by certain participating nations, the Council notes with deep regret that differences still persist and are likely to jeopardise the smooth running of these events," they added.

Morocco and Algeria's relations have deteriorated severely in recent years, particularly since Morocco controversiallyÌýestablishedÌý with Israel in December 2020, while also gainingÌýUSÌýrecognition of MoroccanÌýsovereignty over the Western Sahara territory.

is considered an integral part of the kingdom, withÌýAlgeria backingÌýthe , which wants independence for the territory.

Algeria with its neighbour in August last year, and has most recently accused Morocco of Western Sahara as part f its territory on a map reportedly adopted by the Arab League.