Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has called for calm and restraint following a tense Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco, stressing that relations between the two countries remain strong despite the controversy surrounding the match.
Speaking in Rabat on Monday, Mr Sonko sought to ease tensions after Senegal’s victory over Morocco in the 2025 AFCON final, which was marked by disputed decisions and crowd disturbances.
He underlined the depth of ties between Dakar and Rabat, saying that “the Senegalese-Moroccan friendship is stronger than the emotions” generated by the incidents that accompanied the match on 18 January.
His comments came amid continued exchanges between supporters of both nations on social media in the days following the final.
Mr Sonko rejected attempts to frame the unrest in political or cultural terms, describing the incidents instead as “emotional excesses produced by fervour”.
The Senegalese leader also emphasised that his visit to Morocco should not be seen as a short-term gesture aimed solely at calming tensions.
He said it formed part of a broader approach of “confirmation, transcendence and refoundation” of relations between two countries that, in his words, are expected to look to the future together.
The remarks were delivered during a meeting of a joint Senegalese-Moroccan commission, co-chaired by Mr Sonko and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Akhannouch said bilateral relations were built on a “solid foundation”, despite the strains caused by the football final.
At the conclusion of the commission’s work, 17 cooperation agreements were signed, covering sectors including higher education, agriculture, industry and the digital economy.
Officials from both sides said the agreements reflected a shared determination to move beyond the sporting dispute and reinforce long-term collaboration.
The diplomatic outreach follows earlier remarks by King Mohammed VI, who expressed confidence that “inter-African brotherhood” would prevail after the incidents linked to the final.
The match itself was marked by a highly contested penalty decision, repeated stoppages in play and disturbances in the stands, contributing to heightened emotions among supporters.
Despite the calls for calm at the political level, judicial proceedings related to the unrest are continuing.
Eighteen Senegalese supporters remain under prosecution for hooliganism in connection with events during the final, highlighting the distinction between diplomatic reconciliation and legal accountability.
While both governments have sought to lower the temperature after a turbulent sporting encounter, officials insist that the episode will not undermine the broader partnership between Senegal and Morocco, which they describe as rooted in long-standing cooperation and mutual respect.
