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After Achraf Hakimi spoke to Onze Mondial about Morocco’s World Cup ambitions, another major voice from Moroccan football has stepped into the spotlight.
This time it was Fouzi Lekjaa who addressed one of the most controversial subjects in African football in recent months: the aftermath of the chaotic AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal.
The January final is one of the most debated matches on the continent. The match between Morocco and Senegal descended into chaos after being interrupted late, before eventually moving beyond the pitch and into legal proceedings. The fallout has fueled months of discussion, criticism, and accusations surrounding Morocco’s role in the case.
In his interview with Onze Mondial, Lekjaa addressed the issue directly and defended Morocco’s handling of the process. “A victory remains a victory. It brings three points in a league, a star when you win a competition, and it remains written in the history of a club or national team. For our part, what we deeply regret is that we would have wanted a more complete ending to the competition, a true conclusion to the celebration,” he said.
“Until the 95th minute, all the ingredients of a great event were there. More generally, I prefer to simply recall that the institutions of the Kingdom of Morocco complied with legality throughout the entire process.”
Read also: Achraf Hakimi World Cup Ambition is Wo ‘To Make Football History’
Lekjaa also insisted Morocco chose restraint despite disagreeing with earlier rulings. “Despite our disagreement with the first-instance decision, we chose not to publicly express any dissatisfaction. We remained faithful to the values of an ancient nation with more than 14 centuries of history, and we continued the process while respecting established rules,” he explained.
“We requested the application of Articles 82 and 84, which are clear and precise. Their reading does not require complex interpretation. At the end of the procedure, we obtained a favorable outcome.”
Lekjaa’s comments come after months of legal and political tension surrounding the final and amid ongoing debate around Morocco’s influence within African football institutions. The issue is still active through appeals and public exchanges in recent weeks.
The FRMF chief also responded directly to allegations and online speculation regarding Morocco’s influence. “In any case, there are rumors and comments, and then there is reality and truth. Reality always ends up imposing itself on everyone.”
He then addressed Morocco’s historical position inside African football governance. “For decades, Morocco was outside the governance of the Confederation of African Football,” Lekjaa explained. “CAF was led by different structures and dynamics over time, and Morocco only found an active place again more recently, in line with its position and contribution to African football.”
He concluded with a firm message: “You cannot blame Morocco for trying to push African football to a higher level.”
One thing is clear, the FRMF president has now publicly delivered Morocco’s strongest response yet to one of African football’s biggest controversies.
