At the western edge of North Africa, the dust has yet to settle following the dramatic final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), held this year in Morocco. The excitement reached its peak; time seemed to stand still, and the streets were decorated accordingly, from massive billboards on the outskirts of cities to neighborhood kiosks.
This was Morocco’s moment to celebrate with Africa and to rev up its engines ahead of hosting the 2030 World Cup. For a nation where hospitality is ingrained in its soul, the anticipation for a tournament returning to Moroccan soil after four decades was at an all-time high.
However, the final moments stood in stark contrast to these expectations. Within minutes of stoppage time, tensions reached a boiling point: A Senegalese goal was disallowed at one end, and a fateful penalty was awarded to Morocco at the other.
Events descended into chaos after the Senegal coach pulled his players off the pitch in protest, and severe violence broke out in the stands. Only after a 15-minute absence did the Senegalese return. Moroccan player Brahim Díaz missed the penalty with a lackluster kick, and Senegal subsequently scored, celebrating a victory to the dismay of millions of Moroccans.
The larger geopolitical battle
While global commentators debated whether the Real Madrid star missed the penalty on purpose, the final was merely a backdrop for a much larger geopolitical battle – an integral part of the campaign for the regional order in Africa.
Across Moroccan and regional media and social networks, allegations surfaced of a “coordinated system of provocations” and false media campaigns.
Sabotage attempts included the use of planted fans in the stands to incite chaos, the activation of a hostile media apparatus aimed at tarnishing the host’s image, and behind-the-scenes political pressure on African soccer federations.
A prominent example was the baffling conduct of the Senegalese Football Federation, which published obsessive messages and complaints regarding security risks on the train to Rabat, hotel issues, and even accusations of player poisoning. These messages were echoed across media outlets, often while glorifying Algeria’s hosting of the tournament in January 2023, as if to create an equation where “Morocco failed, while Algeria succeeded.”
The match ended, but the war continued. The CAF Disciplinary Committee drew a clear “red line” by launching investigations and disciplinary proceedings against those involved, ranging from a $100,000 fine imposed on Algeria for violent behavior and provocations to severe proceedings against Senegal and the expected suspension of its coach following the scandalous walk-off.
Those steps, alongside FIFA’s full backing of the Moroccan organization, turned the sabotage attempt into a resounding failure. The data on the ground speaks for itself – AFCON in Morocco was recorded as a massive African success, with revenues exceeding one billion euros, serving as a powerful growth engine that created over 100,000 jobs and saw a record 1.3 million spectators filling the new stadiums.
Morocco and its African ties
To understand why a single soccer match stirred such fierce opposition, one must look at the “quiet revolution” led by King Mohammed VI in Africa.
Since the late 1990s, Morocco has been returning to its roots, focusing its efforts on developing ties with the “New South,” encompassing Africa and the Global South. Since its return to the African Union in 2017 and the transformation of Casablanca into a financial hub, the kingdom has become the second-largest investor on the continent.
Soccer serves as a tool of soft power, and through partnerships with African soccer federations, Rabat has deepened its influence. The regime in Algiers views Morocco’s momentum in Africa as a strategic threat. This is especially true following the United Nations Security Council’s support in October 2025 for the Moroccan Autonomy Plan, which it recognized as the sole basis for a solution in the Sahara.
Beyond the bilateral rivalry, on a broader strategic level, Morocco is viewed as an anchor of the American-led coalition in North and West Africa, of which Israel is also a member.
Facing Algeria and the Polisario Front, supported by Iran and its proxies, the kingdom has initiated large-scale projects such as the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline and the Royal Atlantic Initiative. These are not merely economic projects but means to strengthen regional stability while curbing the influence of extremist elements and jihadist cells.
Morocco’s official joining of Donald Trump’s Board of Peace this week is another expression of this orientation, and the current dynamic between Morocco and Algeria will probably be addressed sooner or later.
As part of this vision, security cooperation with Israel is a vital component. Remarkably, in the shadow of October 7, 2023, the bond has tightened into a distinct strategic alliance.
While the American coalition and Israel fight Iranian proxies in the Middle East, Morocco stands as an anchor of stability against Algeria, Iran, and their supporters in Africa. The events of the final are a reminder that the struggle for the region’s future is not limited to the military front but spills over into the economy as well as diplomacy and even the playing fields. In this struggle, Morocco is a first-rate strategic partner in the coalition fighting for the future of a new global and regional order.
The writer is an expert on Morocco and MENA partnerships and a member of the Coalition for Regional Security. She has been promoting Israeli-Moroccan relations for over a decade and was a member of the founding team of the Israeli Mission to Morocco.