Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has urged calm and unity after tensions flared at the end of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal, calling on supporters to move beyond the discord and reaffirm African fraternity.
In an official statement issued by the Royal Cabinet on Monday evening, the monarch broke his silence following clashes that overshadowed the closing moments of the final on 18 January.
While acknowledging the incidents that marred the occasion, King Mohammed VI stressed that the wider meaning of the tournament should not be lost amid heightened emotions.
“Also, even if this great continental football celebration hosted by the Kingdom seems to have been sadly marred by the unfortunate episode of the final minutes of the match between the national teams of Morocco and Senegal, during which regrettable incidents and very deplorable actions occurred, it remains nonetheless true that once the passion has subsided, inter-African fraternity will naturally prevail, because this Moroccan success is also an African success,” the statement read.
The King underlined Morocco’s pride in having staged the tournament, despite the disappointment of defeat in the final.
He said the country had offered “a month of popular joy and sporting excitement” and had contributed to the global profile of African football.
Addressing criticism directed at the host nation in the aftermath of the match, he added: “Faced with the denigration and certain attempts at discrediting us, His Majesty the King, may God assist him, remains convinced that hostile intentions will never succeed, that the Moroccan people know how to distinguish between right and wrong, and that they will not allow themselves to be drawn into resentment and discord.”
The statement placed particular emphasis on the importance of long-standing ties between African nations, insisting that sporting rivalry should never undermine deeper bonds.
“Nothing can alter the close bonds cultivated over centuries between our African peoples, nor the fruitful cooperation built with the various countries of the continent and strengthened by ever more ambitious partnerships,” the King declared.
By framing the aftermath of the final in broader diplomatic terms, the monarch echoed earlier appeals for calm from Senegalese authorities and sought to shift the focus away from confrontation.
The message concluded with a reminder that while trophies are won and lost on the pitch, unity across the continent must endure beyond the final whistle.
