CAF Champions League final: Fouzi Lekjaa’s absence during trophy presentation sparks renewed debate

Fouzi Lekjaa’s absence during the trophy presentation following Mamelodi Sundowns’ CAF Champions League triumph over AS FAR has reignited criticism and debate across African football, only months after a similar controversy emerged during the Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco.

The South African club secured the continental title in Rabat after overcoming AS FAR across two legs, sealing their second CAF Champions League crown ten years after their first success.

But while the football itself captured attention, post-match scenes quickly became another major talking point.

Observers once again noticed that Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and first vice-president of the Confederation of African Football, was absent during the presentation of the trophy to the victorious team.

For many, the images immediately brought back memories of January 2026, when Morocco lost the Africa Cup of Nations final to Senegal at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

On that occasion too, attention shifted away from the sporting result toward the post-match ceremony and the notable absence of Morocco’s most influential football official.

The repeated nature of the incidents has now fuelled wider discussions about leadership, symbolism and fair play at major continental events.

Lekjaa occupies one of the most powerful positions in African football. As both the head of Moroccan football and a senior CAF official, his role regularly places him at the centre of major tournaments and continental decisions.

Because of that stature, every public appearance or absence carries significant meaning.

The controversy surrounding the latest final is not directly linked to the defeat itself.

Losing an important final at home is always emotionally difficult, particularly in front of a packed stadium expecting celebration.

But many observers believe the trophy presentation represents something larger than the sporting disappointment experienced after the final whistle.

In African football, the awards ceremony is traditionally viewed as a moment of respect between opponents.

It reflects the spirit of competition while recognising the achievement of the winning side, regardless of the result.

The ceremony also carries symbolic importance for the host country, particularly during high-profile continental events watched across Africa and beyond.

For critics, the absence of senior officials during these moments creates an image that clashes with the principles of sportsmanship regularly promoted by football institutions.

The debate became even more intense because the two incidents unfolded in remarkably similar circumstances.

In January, Morocco suffered heartbreak in the AFCON final after Senegal secured victory following extra time in front of more than 66,000 supporters in Rabat.

The defeat itself was already painful for the host nation, but post-match discussion quickly centred on the trophy ceremony and the absence of Lekjaa from the presentation to the Senegalese team.

Only a few months later, the situation appeared to repeat itself almost identically.

Again in Rabat. Again in front of a full stadium. Again after a Moroccan side lost a major continental final on home soil.

This time, it was AS FAR falling short against Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League final.

The South African club celebrated a historic continental success, but attention once more drifted toward the organisation of the post-match ceremony.

The repeated episodes have led some commentators to question whether the absence can still be explained simply as disappointment after defeat.

For others, it risks creating the impression that accepting victory becomes difficult when the triumph belongs to an opponent on Moroccan soil.

The issue has also reopened wider conversations about the responsibilities attached to football leadership positions.

Hosting continental competitions often requires officials to demonstrate composure and neutrality, especially during emotionally charged moments.

At that level, gestures are rarely viewed as insignificant.

Football authorities across Africa frequently promote messages centred on unity, respect and fair play.

Critics argue that those values become most important precisely in moments of defeat, when frustration and disappointment are strongest.

Supporters of Moroccan football, meanwhile, continue to defend the enormous work carried out under Lekjaa’s leadership over recent years.

Morocco has become a central force in African football organisation, hosting major events and investing heavily in infrastructure and development.

Yet the recurring controversies surrounding trophy presentations have ensured that public attention remains fixed on the symbolic side of leadership as much as sporting achievement.

The latest incident is therefore likely to continue generating discussion far beyond the final itself.

While Mamelodi Sundowns celebrated another historic continental success, debate around Fouzi Lekjaa’s absence has once again highlighted how moments after the final whistle can sometimes shape the narrative just as much as the football played on the pitch.