Africa-Press. Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has called for reconciliation and calm with Morocco following the events that preceded the national team’s second-ever Africa Cup of Nations title.
Sonko’s appeal comes after a highly tense final, which ended with Senegal defeating the “Atlas Lions” 1-0 after extra time. The match saw protests from coach Aliou Cissé, Senegalese fans storming the field, and clashes with Moroccan security forces following a penalty awarded to the home team, resulting in the arrest of 18 fans in Rabat.
Sonko stated in a public message that he had held a long discussion with his Moroccan counterpart, Aziz Akhannouch, to ensure continued relations in a spirit of calm and concord, following the guidance of King Mohammed VI and President Macky Sall, according to Senegalese state newspaper Le Soleil.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need to preserve the deep historical ties between the two countries, urging citizens not to let the events go beyond their strictly sporting context. He also warned against fake news and misleading information on social media, denying any deaths among security forces, contrary to some rumors.
Sonko concluded his appeal by asking supporters of both countries to “not politicize” the events of the final, stressing that Senegal’s historical commitment is based on promoting peace and mutual respect, and that the shared challenges between the two nations far exceed a mere football competition.
Earlier, Senegalese coach Aliou Cissé apologized for his actions during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, after having asked his players to leave the field in protest of the penalty awarded to Morocco.
