Morocco’s king calls for unity after chaotic AFCON final

King Mohammed VI Calls for Unity After Controversial AFCON Final

King Mohammed VI of Morocco issued a statement on January 22, 2026, urging calm and emphasizing African solidarity in the aftermath of the contentious Africa Cup of Nations final that saw Senegal defeat hosts Morocco 1-0 in extra time on January 18. The match in Rabat was overshadowed by a disputed penalty, a team walkout, and clashes between fans and security forces.

“Even if this major continental football celebration hosted by the Kingdom appears to have been sadly marred by the unfortunate events of the final minutes,” the King stated, “inter-African fraternity will naturally prevail, for this Moroccan success is also an African success.” The monarch expressed confidence that “hostile schemes will never reach their aims” and that historical ties between African nations would endure.maroc

Match Descends Into Chaos

The final at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium unraveled in stoppage time when referee Jean-Jacques Ndala first disallowed a potential Senegal goal by Ismaïla Sarr, citing a foul on Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi. Moments later, VAR awarded Morocco a penalty for a challenge on Brahim Diaz of Real Madrid, igniting protests from Senegal’s bench.indulgexpress

Head coach Pape Thiaw directed his players to leave the pitch in protest, causing a delay of approximately 14 to 17 minutes as projectiles flew from the stands and some supporters attempted to breach security barriers. Captain Sadio Mané ultimately persuaded his teammates to return.espn

When play resumed, Diaz attempted a panenka penalty that goalkeeper Édouard Mendy easily saved. Pape Gueye then scored the decisive goal in the 94th minute of extra time, securing Senegal’s second continental title in four years.cnn

Diplomatic Efforts to Ease Tensions

Both governments have moved swiftly to prevent the sporting dispute from damaging bilateral relations. Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko revealed he had spoken with his Moroccan counterpart to encourage calm. “We call on our respective compatriots to depoliticize this episode, which under no circumstances can go beyond the purely sporting context,” Sonko stated.seneweb

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, while celebrating the victory with lavish rewards for his team, also thanked Morocco for its hospitality during the tournament. The two countries have scheduled the 15th session of their High Joint Partnership Commission for January 26-27 in Rabat, underscoring their commitment to continued cooperation.nytimes

Student associations from Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar and Moroccan students studying there issued a joint statement calling for peace, emphasizing that the two nations “are united by historical, fraternal, and strong ties.”seneweb

Governing Bodies Launch Investigations

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who witnessed the chaos firsthand, condemned the scenes as “unacceptable” and stated that “violence cannot be tolerated in our sport.” The Confederation of African Football has opened disciplinary proceedings against individuals involved in the disturbance, reviewing footage of the incidents.aljazeera

Despite the controversy, CAF described Morocco’s hosting of the tournament as “the best in the tournament’s history.” King Mohammed VI noted that the Kingdom’s organization of the event demonstrated its readiness for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.middle-east-online