Senegal-Morocco ties 'stronger than emotion' after tense AFCON final: Sonko

Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said on Monday in Rabat that ties with Morocco were "stronger than emotion", days after tense scenes during the two nations' face-off in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

The January 18 match – which saw Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 on home turf – descended into tense action after the Senegalese contingent protested a last-minute decision to award Morocco a penalty.

Consequently, the match was halted for nearly 20 minutes after Senegalese players stepped out of play, before resuming and winning the match.

Speaking in Rabat during a joint Senegal–Morocco commission meeting, Sonko said his visit was not meant to calm tempers but to "confirm" the ties between the two nations.

'Solid foundation'

Morocco and Senegal cooperate in sectors including tourism, energy, infrastructure and transport, in addition to sharing strong religious ties.

"The excesses we witnessed should be understood as emotional spillovers driven by passion and not as political or cultural factors," Sonko said during the meeting co-chaired with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

Akhannouch echoed his message, stressing that relations between Rabat and Dakar rest on "a solid foundation."

Last week, Morocco's King Mohammed VI also voiced confidence in "African brotherhood" following the final's "unfortunate incidents."

Prosecution

Eighteen Senegalese supporters remain in pre‑trial detention in Morocco, where they face charges of causing unrest at the match. Their trial was postponed to next Thursday.

As of 2024, 60% of migrants living in Morocco were from Sub-Saharan African countries, with Senegalese nationals forming the largest foreign community at 18%, according to the Morocco's High Commission for Planning.