Audio By Carbonatix
Morocco's national team was escorted out of Guinea, where they were set to play a World Cup qualifier on Monday, on Sunday after an attempted coup took place in the capital Conakry.
Following hours of heavy gunfire near the presidential palace, football's governing body Fifa and its African counterpart Caf postponed the game.
But the Moroccan delegation was trapped in its Conakry hotel, where coach Vahid Halilhodzic heard gunfire "nearly all day"
, he told French media agency L'Equipe, as the country's embassy tried to arrange their safe passage out of the country.
Morocco are captained by Wolves defender Roman Saiss and also include QPR striker Ilias Chair and Watford duo Adam Masina and Imran Louza, as well as Paris St-Germain's Achraf Hakimi.
After hours of uncertainty and with some players "worried" according to Halilhodzic, both the Moroccans and the match officials were finally given an escort to the airport, from where they flew out late on Sunday.
"Guinea's borders are currently closed, but the Moroccans and match officials were given special authorisation to leave," Cellou Diallo, who often reports for Canal+, told BBC Sport Africa.
Earlier in the day, soldiers had appeared on Guinea's national TV claiming to have dissolved the government, although the defence ministry said the attempted takeover had been thwarted by the presidential guard.
The fate of Guinea's President Alpha Condé was unclear after an unverified video showed him surrounded by soldiers.
"The current political and security situation in Guinea is quite volatile and is being closely monitored by Fifa and Caf," read a joint statement by the bodies. "To ensure the safety and security of all players and all match officials, Fifa and Caf have decided to postpone the match."
Latest Stories
-
Adenta building collapse: Victim died trying to save her children—Sister recounts
3 minutes -
Owner of collapsed Adenta building to be arrested for ignoring stop-work order – La Nkwantanan MCE
6 minutes -
Accra floods: We have done things the “wrong way” for over 40 years – GhIE President
10 minutes -
Ukraine accused of killing four in occupied Crimea
12 minutes -
2026 WAFCON: Asamoah Gyan inspires Black Queens with training visit
13 minutes -
US House delivers rebuke to Trump as it votes to halt Iran war
20 minutes -
Accra Floods: Water retention systems are compromised – GhIE President
20 minutes -
PFAG backs rice import quota policy, demands urgent action over worsening rice glut
24 minutes -
Trump to nominate Blanche for attorney general on permanent basis
27 minutes -
MoGCSP launches 2026 Blue Day media campaign to tackle sports trafficking in Ghana
40 minutes -
GIS secures 7-year jail term for Nigerian woman convicted of human trafficking
49 minutes -
Workplace Flexibility during the ongoing rains
51 minutes -
The photocopy machine operator will save us
59 minutes -
2026 World Cup: Black Star Balloon Tour launched to rally nationwide support
60 minutes -
Woman dead in Adenta New Site building collapse
1 hour