Lekjaa vows Morocco will fight Senegal final case as 2030 World Cup ambitions continue

Fouzi Lekjaa says Morocco will continue to defend its position in the dispute over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal, insisting the country’s case is based solely on the competition’s rules and the principles of fair play.

The president of the Moroccan Football Federation was speaking in an interview with Jeune Afrique, excerpts of which were reported by Algerian newspaper Echorouk, ahead of a scheduled hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on 8 October.

Lekjaa said Morocco remained committed to pursuing the matter through the appropriate legal channels and would rely on the regulations governing international football.

Morocco’s case centres on events during the final, with Lekjaa claiming Senegal breached the rules when its players and coaching staff left the pitch. He argued that such conduct could not be considered separately from the regulations designed to govern international competitions.

He also said FIFA subsequently amended some of its laws to strengthen sanctions for incidents of this kind. In Lekjaa’s view, those changes underline the importance of respecting the rules and preventing any behaviour that could undermine the integrity of competition.

The Moroccan Football Federation president expressed confidence in the legal process chosen by his country and said it would continue using the relevant bodies to protect its rights and ensure the regulations were applied equally.

However, Lekjaa stressed that the CAS hearing on 8 October should be regarded as one stage in what could be a lengthy legal process, rather than necessarily the date on which a final verdict will be delivered.

He added that further hearings could take place as the case progresses, meaning the dispute may continue for some time before a definitive decision is reached. Morocco is seeking a ruling that, in its view, would reaffirm respect for the regulations governing continental and international competitions.

Morocco’s World Cup 2030 final bid

Lekjaa also discussed Morocco’s ambition to host the final of the 2030 World Cup, which will be staged by Morocco, Spain and Portugal.

He said Morocco would follow all procedures and regulations set by FIFA, including inspection visits and the established process for selecting the stadiums and cities that will host matches during the tournament.

At the same time, Lekjaa insisted Morocco had the right to promote its bid to stage the final as Africa’s representative in the process. He said that ambition was not in conflict with respecting FIFA’s official procedures.

Support for Infantino

Lekjaa further explained his support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino, saying it was based on his belief that football could help unite people and bring societies closer together.

He said backing Infantino did not mean overlooking the need to improve governance within FIFA. Lekjaa called for greater balance, transparency and good governance in the administration of the global game.

His position, he added, was linked less to individuals than to principles and institutions. He emphasised the importance of creating a strong system able to balance the interests of the different parties involved in international football.