The Senegalese Football Federation downplayed the significance of the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) investigation into the events of the Africa Cup of Nations final and Morocco’s planned legal appeal to continental and international football bodies.
Following Senegal’s title celebrations, federation president Abdallah Fal told the Senegalese Press Agency (APS) that he sees “no problem” with the expected legal proceedings. He added that such cases are familiar to the federation, a stance viewed by some observers as underestimating the seriousness of the final’s chaotic incidents, which sparked widespread controversy in Moroccan football circles.
“We are waiting to see what CAF will submit, and we will take the necessary steps,” Fal said. “There is no problem at this level. We are used to such situations; even during the Africa Cup of Nations, we already had files presented to the disciplinary committee.”
Fal reiterated in comments reported by Senegalese newspaper Senenews that his country has no concern about potential sanctions, stating that they are “ready at all levels to defend ourselves.”
Meanwhile, Abdallah Sido Sou, secretary-general of the Senegalese Football Federation, told APS that Senegal is prepared to respond to any complaint Morocco might file, without directly acknowledging responsibility for the disorder and officiating controversies that marked the final.
What happens during sporting events is similar to what happens when Raja and Wydad play, for example; fans sometimes slip up. The same is true when Real Madrid plays Barcelona, or when other teams in Germany or England play; there is always excessive enthusiasm and excessive violence. This is one of the negative aspects of sporting events worldwide.
The country of Senegal and its people are our brothers, our friends, and our relationship is excellent, just as it is with the Egyptian and Algerian people. Our destiny as African nations and peoples is a shared one, and it is shameful that sport divides us instead of uniting us.
The Kingdom of Morocco is moving forward with steady steps. Morocco is building and developing, and it is on the right path despite the gratuitous hostility from the Algerian military regime and the containment policy pursued by the Élysée Palace and the deep-seated colonial state of France, which still dreams of past glories that are gone and will never return