Morocco has defended its handling of the chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final, with a senior government official, Ryad Mezzour, insisting that security forces rose to the occasion despite the difficult circumstances.
The final, attended by Gianni Infantino, was overshadowed by confusion and disorder, raising fresh questions about crowd control and tournament organisation.
But Mezzour struck a measured tone, acknowledging the challenges while praising the response on the ground.
Although he admitted the match was “difficult,” the minister maintained that those tasked with maintaining order inside the stadium performed admirably.
“We are proud of the way the security corp and the security people did manage this situation,” Mezzour told the BBC, highlighting what he described as a coordinated and effective intervention.
He added that Morocco views such incidents as learning opportunities, stressing the importance of continuous improvement in hosting major international events.
“We always learn what to deliver from events, be it in Morocco or outside Morocco,” he noted.
Mezzour also revealed that Morocco’s efforts did not go unnoticed beyond the continent, disclosing that a delegation from the United States—one of the hosts of this year’s FIFA World Cup—was present throughout the tournament, closely observing operations.
Beyond the immediate fallout from the final, the minister framed the tournament within a broader national vision, pointing to its potential to drive long-term development.
“The World Cup is a chance for our country, like the Africa Cup [of Nations] was a chance for our country, to create more development, to create more wealth, to create more jobs, to create more public services in healthcare and in transportation,” he said.
“This is very important for us.”
His remarks underline Morocco’s ambition to leverage major sporting events not only as showcases of football but as catalysts for economic growth and infrastructure expansion, even as scrutiny over the AFCON final continues to linger.
