A stadium steward has died following violent disturbances involving supporters during Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Rabat, casting a dark shadow over the continent’s flagship football tournament.
The victim, identified as Maaroufi, a Moroccan man in his 30s, was part of the matchday security team at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium for the final between Morocco and Senegal.
What was meant to be a proud and memorable day for him ended in tragedy.
According to multiple accounts, tensions inside the stadium escalated late in the second half after a controversial penalty decision awarded to Morocco by referee Jean-Jacques Ndala.
The decision triggered anger among sections of Senegalese supporters, leading to scenes of unrest in the stands.
Amid the chaos, Maaroufi was one of dozens of security personnel overwhelmed as the security perimeter collapsed under pressure.
Witnesses say he was targeted and brutally assaulted, sustaining severe injuries as order broke down.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment but succumbed to his injuries on Monday, January 19.
An eyewitness who spoke to http://Sportglitz.com described the incident as a tragic end to what had otherwise been a celebratory tournament.
“It’s unfortunate what happened. You host the continent for a competition like this, and then it ends this way,” the witness said.
The source added that officiating played a key role in igniting tensions, noting that the referee’s early whistle on a Senegalese attacking move denied the possibility of a VAR review.
Maaroufi’s death is not the only tragedy linked to the final stages of the tournament. Mohamed Soumaré, a veteran Malian journalist and respected football consultant, was earlier found dead in his hotel room while covering the competition in Rabat. The two deaths have significantly dampened the legacy of the 35th edition of the AFCON.
For many observers, the events in Rabat revive painful memories of the Olembe Stadium disaster during the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, where a deadly stampede claimed at least eight lives.
The recurrence of fatal incidents at major CAF tournaments has raised renewed concerns about crowd control, emergency response, and overall security planning.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has since condemned the violence and confirmed that an investigation has been launched, with possible sanctions expected. However, critics argue that official statements offer little comfort when systemic failures continue to put lives at risk.
As African football mourns Maaroufi, questions are being asked once again: how many more lives must be lost before matchday security, officiating standards, and crisis management are treated with the seriousness they demand?
