Moroccan football federation president Fouzi Lekjaa has strongly defended Morocco’s handling of a controversial Africa Cup of Nations final involving Senegal, insisting the host nation acted responsibly throughout a tense and emotionally charged occasion.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Lekjaa rejected suggestions of wrongdoing and argued that a series of misunderstandings and logistical disagreements contributed to the tensions that surrounded the match.
Addressing one of the most contentious moments of the final, he referenced the reaction to a penalty decision that sparked chaos during the contest.
“Regarding the Africa Cup of Nations final, when the referee awarded a penalty, Senegal left the pitch. You all saw what happened, and you also saw some individuals who caused disturbances and were Senegal fans,” Lekjaa said.
“Honestly, the Moroccan crowd reacted with wisdom. If we wanted to ‘cheat,’ we could have ended the match in the 15th minute and why would we wait until the 90th minute?”
The comments relate to a disputed phase of the final in which Senegal’s reaction to the referee’s decision heightened tensions on and off the field, forcing organisers and officials to manage an increasingly volatile situation.
Lekjaa also dismissed claims that Senegal had experienced problems during their stay in Morocco before the final, insisting the delegation had been satisfied with the tournament arrangements.
“Regarding scenes before the AFCON final, the Senegal team, since arriving in Morocco, never complained about anything. On the contrary, their federation president even said the stadium was world-class and everything was perfect.”
According to Lekjaa, tensions only emerged as the final approached, beginning with confusion surrounding the arrival of Senegal’s squad in Rabat.
“But when they reached the final, the first issue started when Senegal announced that their team would arrive in Rabat at a certain time, which made their fans come to see their players. That was the first misunderstanding.”
He further revealed that Morocco accommodated requests from Senegal regarding logistical arrangements ahead of the match.
“The second issue was the hotel assigned by CAF – they didn’t like it, so we changed it for them.”
“The third issue was that they refused to train at the Moroccan national team training center.”
Lekjaa’s remarks are likely to reopen debate over one of the most controversial episodes in recent African football history, with differing interpretations of the events continuing to divide opinion across the continent.
The comments also come at a time when Morocco is strengthening its influence in global football administration, with the North African nation set to play a significant role in major international tournaments in the years ahead.
For Lekjaa, defending Morocco’s conduct remains an important part of protecting the country’s reputation as both a football powerhouse and a trusted host of major sporting e
