Following the dramatic events that unfolded during the Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco, reports have emerged linking the controversy to Morocco’s joint bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
A Spanish newspaper has launched a sharp critique of FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, describing the final as chaotic and raising concerns about Morocco’s preparedness to stage a tournament of global scale.
Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo claimed that Infantino appeared “lost and paralysed” as he watched proceedings from the VIP box, while incidents escalated both inside and outside the stadium.
According to the report, the situation was not adequately contained, resulting in what the newspaper described as “great damage to the image of football.”
The publication placed particular emphasis on the trophy presentation, alleging that “Prince Moulay Rachid, brother of the Moroccan monarch King Mohammed VI, refused to hand over the championship trophy to the captain of the Senegalese national team.”
However, footage of the coronation ceremony contradicts this assertion, showing Prince Moulay Rachid alongside CAF President Patrice Motsepe jointly presenting the trophy to Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly.
Mundo Deportivo further reported that tensions extended beyond the pitch, claiming that Moroccan journalists walked out of the post-match press conference in protest against the coach of the newly crowned champions.
The newspaper linked these developments to Morocco’s role in the 2030 World Cup bid, arguing that the scenes witnessed in Rabat could make it “difficult for Infantino to feel reassured about Morocco’s readiness to organise a global event of this magnitude.”
Additional criticism was directed at what the outlet described as “unsportsmanlike” behaviour by ball boys, alleging that they deliberately distracted Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy during the match and took his towel.
In the wake of the report, some news websites and social media accounts speculated that Morocco could lose its World Cup hosting rights, attributing the claims to Mundo Deportivo. However, the Spanish newspaper did not state that FIFA was considering withdrawing the tournament from Morocco.
Instead, it focused on strong criticism of the incidents surrounding the AFCON final, questioning Morocco’s organisational image and FIFA’s handling of the situation, without suggesting any formal move to strip the country of its hosting role.
