AFCON 2025 – Senegal vs Morocco: King Mohammed VI calls for unity after a tense final
The day after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, marred by incidents between Morocco and Senegal, King Mohamed VI called for calm and unity, reminding that the tournament’s success goes beyond the tensions and belongs to all of Africa.
The day after a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final marked by incidents at the end of the match between Morocco and Senegal, King Mohamed VI stepped out of his usual reserve. The Moroccan sovereign delivered a message of appeasement, stressing that beyond the tensions, the CAN remains a celebration of African football and a symbol of continental fraternity.
Not shying away from the events that occurred in the final minutes, the King acknowledged an “unfortunate episode” that tarnished the outcome of the match. But he sought to place these outbursts in a broader frame, stressing that “once the passion subsides, inter-African fraternity will naturally prevail”. For the monarch, the successful organization of the CAN by the Kingdom goes beyond the simple national frame: “This Moroccan achievement is also an African achievement.”
Despite the Atlas Lions’ defeat, Mohamed VI expressed pride in the host country, hailing “a month of popular joy and sporting emotion” offered on Moroccan soil. He stressed the positive impact of the tournament on the continent’s image, saying that Morocco had contributed “to Africa’s standing and its football.”
In response to the criticisms and polemics that arose after the final, the sovereign also spoke firmly. He denounced attempts at denigration and discredit, while asserting his confidence in the maturity of the Moroccan people: “Hostile designs will never prevail. The Moroccan people know how to keep things in perspective and will not be drawn into resentment and discord”.
Finally, Mohamed VI recalled the importance of the historical ties that bind African nations. For him, no sporting incident could undermine “the closeness cultivated over centuries between our peoples,” nor the cooperation and strengthened partnerships between Morocco and other countries on the continent. A strong message, both political and sporting, which is meant to be an appeal for calm and unity, in the very spirit of the Africa Cup of Nations.
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