The final between Senegal and Morocco was marked by a rather unusual event, adding to the long list of controversial and surprising episodes that have marred the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations hosted in Morocco.
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El Moudjahid: Despite billions spent on sports and diplomatic infiltration, the Moroccan regime loses on all fronts
Despite billions of dollars invested by the Moroccan regime in diplomacy and sports across Africa—particularly to promote the narrative of the “Moroccanness of Western Sahara”—this strategy has failed. On the diplomatic level, Morocco’s accession to the African Union in 2017 did not lead to the exclusion of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), nor did it alter the AU’s position, which remains supportive of the right to self-determination for Western Sahara.
On the sporting level, Morocco is said to have attempted to instrumentalize competitions and sports infrastructure to impose its political vision, notably by integrating occupied Saharan cities into continental events. While some minor sports federations may have yielded, major disciplines such as football and handball resisted, particularly thanks to the actions and vigilance of Algerian sports authorities.
The text concludes that this policy produced no concrete results, isolated Morocco on the African continent, and even generated domestic discontent, especially due to normalization with Israel, which is presented as contrary to the pro-Palestinian sentiments of the Moroccan people.
AFCON 2025: The Worst African Competition Since Its Creation
Several former Algerian international referees consider AFCON 2025 to be the worst African competition in history. They denounce serious refereeing errors, a lack of fairness, behind-the-scenes pressure, and blatant favouritism toward the host country, despite the use of VAR.
Mohamed Benouza speaks of chaotic organization and unjust decisions that influenced match results and tarnished the credibility of African refereeing. Mohamed Hansal openly talks about refereeing corruption and accuses Fouzi Lekjaa of exerting direct influence over the CAF refereeing committee to favor the host nation, describing the competition as “rigged.”
Finally, Mohamed Amine Meknous believes this edition will remain a negative chapter in the history of African football, marked by practices contrary to sporting ethics. All call for an AFCON based on transparency, fair play, and credible refereeing to preserve the image and values of African football.
Radio Algeria: AFCON 2025: Despite biased refereeing, schemes, and backstage dealings, Senegal wins the Africa Cup
Senegal’s national team brilliantly won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) on Sunday night, despite biased refereeing and behind-the-scenes maneuvering that characterized the competition throughout its course.
Algeria Today: AFCON 2025: A Final Marked by Strange Scenes
The final between Senegal and Morocco was marked by a particularly unusual incident, adding to the long list of controversial and surprising episodes that punctuated AFCON 2025, hosted by Morocco.
During the match, cameras caught Moroccan captain Achraf Hakimi throwing away the towel of Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, before it was retrieved and placed back near the post by a Senegalese player.
Another unusual scene showed Moroccan ball boys running after a member of the Senegalese technical staff to snatch another towel intended for the goalkeeper, an incident that occurred right next to the touchline while the match was still ongoing.
Ouest Tribune: AFCON 2025: An “Unprecedented Scandal” in the History of the Continental Competition
Refereeing decisions at AFCON 2025 sparked major controversy, described by many experts and former international referees as an unprecedented scandal in the history of the competition. They believe refereeing directly influenced the results of several matches, severely damaging the credibility of African football, particularly to the detriment of Algeria and other teams.
Several former referees, including Abdelaziz Chadli, Djamel-Eddine Benchaâ, and Salim Oussaci, denounce a scenario orchestrated behind the scenes with the complicity of the host country, involving manipulation in referee appointments, pressure on teams, serious errors not corrected by VAR, and blatant favoritism toward the host nation.
They assert that these practices distorted the sporting spirit of AFCON 2025, transforming it into a biased competition marked by opportunistic maneuvers and violations of fair play. This edition is thus described as an indelible stain in the history of African football, having durably harmed its image and integrity.
Algeria Breve News: AFCON 2025: Spain Seeks to Exploit Morocco’s Failures
The incidents surrounding the AFCON 2025 final between Morocco and Senegal were widely relayed by Spanish media and social networks, which exploited them to question Morocco’s ability to host the final of the 2030 World Cup.
These outlets highlighted several controversies, including refereeing errors, protocol incidents, the behavior of certain Moroccan journalists, and the symbolic refusal to hand the trophy to Senegal. According to the text, these elements serve Spain’s interests, as it seeks to retain the hosting of the 2030 World Cup final at the Santiago Bernabéu, in the face of Moroccan ambitions backed by Fouzi Lekjaa.
Thus, the controversy surrounding the AFCON final is presented as a media and political lever used by Spain—not out of sympathy for Senegal, but to weaken Morocco’s bid in the co-organization of the 2030 World Cup.
Al Mounasser: Senegal Makes Very Serious Accusations Against Morocco
AFCON 2025 was heavily marked by refereeing controversies, with many actors believing it favored Morocco, particularly in matches against Tanzania, Nigeria, and in the final against Senegal. During the final, a penalty awarded to Morocco after a Senegalese goal was disallowed led Senegalese players to temporarily leave the pitch—a gesture later regretted and publicly apologized for by coach Pape Thiaw.
Despite Senegal’s eventual victory, fullback Ismaïl Jakobs made serious accusations, referring to troubling events that occurred before and during the match without specifying their nature. He notably mentioned incidents affecting several Senegalese players, including last-minute withdrawals and a halftime medical issue. These vague and unsubstantiated statements fueled suspicions and controversy surrounding the integrity of AFCON 2025.
Le Géant Sportif: Nigeria: The Goalkeeper Mocks the Moroccans
During AFCON 2025, Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali sarcastically referred to the “towel theft” incident he allegedly suffered in the semifinal against Morocco, similar to what Édouard Mendy experienced in the final. After Senegal’s victory over Morocco, Nwabali mocked the Moroccans on social media, illustrating the climate of tension and controversy that marked the tournament.
