AFCON Final Sparks a Diplomatic Move: Senegal's PM Reaches Out to Morocco
22 January 2026
Diplomatic Outreach After the AFCON Final
In a move reflecting mutual interest in defusing tensions around football, Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko spoke by phone with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, days after the AFCON 2025 final hosted in Rabat.
According to a statement from the Senegalese Prime Minister's Office, the two sides stressed the strength of bilateral ties grounded in historic, cultural, religious, and economic foundations, affirming that the events of the final will not shake the core of their strategic partnership.
The final featured protests, including a temporary withdrawal by Senegalese players over a referee decision awarding a penalty to Morocco, followed by some fans attempting to breach security and resulting arrests.
Sonko said: "We agreed to continue working in a spirit of reassurance, calm, and ease to deepen the ties that have lasted for centuries and are profoundly rooted."
He added: "The Senegalese government is closely monitoring with consular and diplomatic authorities and the Moroccan authorities the situation of detained supporters in Rabat and Moroccans resident in Morocco, and urges caution regarding information spread on social networks and some media that disseminate misinformation."
He continued: "Therefore, we urge our fellow citizens and friends to set aside these excitements; they cannot override the sporting frame. Our shared challenges are more important."
He noted: "We are pleased to announce the 15th Joint High Committee meeting between the two states, from 26 to 28 January in Rabat, under the effective leadership of the two prime ministers."
He recalled that the meeting, not held since 2013 in Dakar, was scheduled by mutual agreement in late December 2025.
Sonko closed: "Senegal ultimately reaffirms its historic commitment to friendship, peace, and respect for relations between states and peoples."
What This Means for Bilateral Ties
Beyond the flare of the final, the message is renewed diplomacy, with a focus on monitoring supporters and guarding against misinformation while pursuing constructive dialogue.
Both countries plan to advance a long-standing partnership despite sporting tensions, signaling a readiness to engage through official channels and meetings.
Punchline 1: In diplomacy, the best defense is a well-timed PR move and a calm press conference.
Punchline 2: If football fixed every dispute, we’d have world peace with fewer VAR reviews and more coffee breaks.
