Abdelaziz Ben Othman Al-Touijri, former Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), believes Morocco offered a powerful example of wisdom and self-control in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
He argued that Morocco effectively gave up the AFCON trophy to prevent what he described as “something worse,” despite being, in his view, fully deserving of the title.
In a post on his personal account on X, Al-Touijri wrote that a careful reading of what happened in the final shows Morocco handled the situation with a strong sense of responsibility. He pointed to the highly charged atmosphere surrounding the match, including protests and provocations before and during the game, as a major test of composure.
Al-Touijri said that objecting to a penalty he described as “one hundred percent correct” and threatening to withdraw from the match could have opened the door to dangerous scenarios that would damage the image of African football. He stressed that Morocco chose to prioritize the greater good and stability over a continental title he considers legitimately earned on sporting grounds.
The former ISESCO chief added that this stance once again reflects the core values of the Moroccan state, which opted for wisdom and avoiding a slide into chaos. He emphasized that decisions like these, while painful from a purely sporting perspective, are recorded in Morocco’s favor on an ethical and historical level.
Al-Touijri concluded by saying Morocco’s image will remain strong thanks to its calm, responsible handling of critical moments, whether inside stadiums or beyond.
