Senegal Hires a Laser-loving Superfan for Morocco: AFCON Semis Spark a Page-Turning Plan
12 January 2026
Laser-Ready Fan Travel Plan
The Senegalese national airline has offered full accommodation in Morocco for Mohamed Saliu Ndiaye, the fan who became infamous for directing a laser beam at Egyptian players during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
According to the Senegalese newspaper Lesoleil, the airline is seeking the fan or a relative to facilitate swift contact, paving the way for his travel to Morocco to attend the Africa Cup of Nations semifinal on January 15, 2026, a clash between Senegal and Egypt.
Ndiaye enjoys wide fame among Senegalese fans, who regard him as a good luck charm for the Lions after the infamous 2022 qualifier in Dakar, when laser beams from fans disrupted penalties by Mohamed Salah, Ahmed Sayed Zizou, and Mustafa Mohamed, in a breach of FIFA rules banning such devices in stadiums.
Despite Senegal's qualification to the World Cup on penalties, the match provoked extensive controversy, prompting FIFA to open a formal investigation that ended with fines and warnings to the Senegal Football Federation for fan conduct and stadium mismanagement.
As AFCON continues to spotlight national pride, the Morocco-bound fan plan underscores the tournament’s high stakes and the ongoing debate over crowd control and sporting spirit.
Punchline 1: If lighting up a stadium were an Olympic sport, Ndiaye would already have a gold lamp. Punchline 2: Morocco, snacks, and a laser-loving cheer squad—talk about high-energy fan support for a semi-final!»
