Morocco and Egypt reaffirm ties as fans mock AFCON final online
Egypt’s Minister of Sports, Ashraf Sobhy, has reiterated Egypt’s long-standing bilateral links with Morocco, amid videos of Egyptian fans celebrating the disorder at the AFCON 2025 final surfacing online, according to a report in Moroccan government-friendly Yabiladi on January 21st.
In a statement released by Sobhy, following a phone call with his Moroccan counterpart, Mohamed Saad Barra, the two ministers emphasised the use of sport as a tool for unification rather than disagreement, whilst stressing the deep ties between the two Arab countries that have been formed over decades.
The statement added that sporting competition should be undertaken in a civilised manner, hallmarked by mutual respect and fair play.
The Egyptian Minister then commended Morocco’s hosting of the tournament and reaffirmed his disapproval of conduct that could portray a negative image of Arab fans or weaken the relationship between the two countries.
According to the statement, the Moroccan Minister outlined his country’s gratitude for its relations with Egypt, reiterating the Kingdom’s support for initiatives enhancing Arab kinship and fostering positive values in young people in both countries.
The videos of Egyptian fans celebrating the turmoil have added to the unsavoury scenes during the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final and in the aftermath.
Pape Gueye’s goal in extra time handed Senegal the trophy after a chaotic ending to the 90 minutes, which saw Brahim Diaz miss a penalty and the Senegal players temporarily leaving the field in protest at referee, Jean-Jacques Ndala’s, controversial officiating.
The protest has been widely criticised, including condemnation from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who said it placed the spirit of football in jeopardy.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation have announced they will take up legal action against the Senegal team for their behaviour, claiming the protest “had a significant impact on the normal course of the match and on the players’ performance.”
Yabiladi, Elbotola, Maghrebi.org
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