Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko on Monday said ties between Senegal and Morocco remain “stronger than emotion,” following the chaotic scenes that marred the Africa Cup of Nations final between the two countries.
The January 18 match, which saw Senegal defeat Morocco 1-0, was disrupted after Senegalese supporters protested a last-minute decision to award Morocco a penalty. Some fans attempted to storm the pitch, while others threw objects onto the field, and the Senegalese team temporarily walked off before returning to complete the match.
Speaking in Rabat during a joint Senegal–Morocco commission meeting, Sonko said his visit was aimed at reaffirming the strong diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between the two nations, rather than calming tempers. He emphasized that the disturbances at the match were “emotional spillovers driven by passion” rather than political or cultural issues.
Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch echoed Sonko’s sentiments, noting that relations between Rabat and Dakar rest on “a solid foundation.” Morocco’s King Mohammed VI also expressed confidence in “African brotherhood” following the incidents.
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Senegal and Morocco cooperate in sectors including tourism, energy, infrastructure, and transport, and share strong religious ties.
Eighteen Senegalese supporters remain in pre‑trial detention in Morocco on hooliganism charges related to the match, with their trial postponed to next Thursday. Rival fans from both countries have continued to exchange barbs on social media.
According to Morocco’s High Commission for Planning, as of 2024, Senegalese nationals make up 18 percent of the country’s sub-Saharan African migrant population, forming the largest foreign community in the kingdom.