Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), has revealed new details about the events surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal, firmly rejecting accusations directed at Morocco regarding the organization of the tournament and refereeing decisions.
Speaking in an interview on Al Jazeera’s Maghareb program, Lekjaa said relations between Morocco and Senegal are “historical, strategic and deep above all else,” stressing that the dispute that emerged after the final should be viewed purely through a sporting lens and does not reflect the broader ties between the two countries.
The Moroccan football chief explained that the Senegalese national team did not submit any complaints or observations concerning accommodation, stadiums or organizational arrangements after arriving in Morocco for the tournament. He noted that a delegation from the Senegalese Football Federation had visited Tangier before the competition and inspected the facilities available to participating teams.
Lekjaa added that the president of the Senegalese federation personally expressed admiration for Tangier’s Grand Stadium following that visit and raised no concerns regarding the infrastructure or organizational conditions provided by Morocco.
According to Lekjaa, the situation began to change once Senegal qualified for the final. He argued that the Senegalese federation, which he said “masters the language of communiqués,” publicly announced details of the team’s travel from Tangier to Rabat, including arrival times and logistical arrangements.
He said it was therefore natural for large numbers of Senegalese supporters to gather to welcome the team, leading to overcrowding at Rabat’s train station. However, he insisted that security arrangements remained fully under control and that no exceptional incidents were recorded despite the large crowds.
Lekjaa further highlighted Morocco’s ability to guarantee security during major sporting events, saying the country’s expertise in this field has received international recognition.
Addressing concerns raised by Senegal regarding its stay in Rabat ahead of the final, Lekjaa explained that the organizing committee had selected hotels and training facilities for potential finalists long before the identities of the teams were known, whether Morocco, Senegal or any other nation.
Nevertheless, he said the Senegalese delegation expressed dissatisfaction with the hotel assigned to it upon arriving in Rabat. Organizers subsequently agreed to move the team to another hotel despite the fact that all arrangements had already been finalized in accordance with Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards.
The same issue arose regarding training facilities, Lekjaa continued. Senegal objected to the training ground allocated to the team because it was located within the Mohammed VI Football Academy complex, where Morocco was also based. Although the complex covers a vast area and includes numerous pitches, organizers agreed to provide an alternative training venue at Senegal’s request.
Turning to the final itself, Lekjaa said he had never before witnessed a team leave the pitch in protest over a refereeing decision, referring to Senegal’s reaction to the penalty awarded to Morocco during the match. He described the incident as unprecedented in his experience.
Regarding the controversial penalty, Lekjaa insisted that the decision was correct and said the FRMF would be prepared to present the footage to analysts around the world for review. “The penalty was valid,” he said, rejecting allegations that Morocco benefited from unfair refereeing decisions.
He also addressed the crowd disturbances that accompanied the final, saying some Senegalese supporters were involved in the incidents. At the same time, he praised Moroccan fans for what he described as a measured response, arguing that the situation could have escalated further had restraint not prevailed.
Rejecting accusations that Morocco had cheated its way to the final, Lekjaa questioned the logic behind such claims. “Would a team that cheats reach the final only after a difficult penalty shootout?” he asked, referring to Morocco’s hard-fought semifinal victory over Nigeria that was decided on penalties. He concluded by saying that Morocco deserved the 2025 AFCON title, while noting that the matter remains before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), pending a final ruling.
