AFCON hangover lingers as host Morocco’s unsporting tactics leave a bitter aftertaste

THE AFCON hosts Morocco claimed the coveted ‘Coach of the Tournament’ and ‘Fair Play’ accolades, achievements that seem to stand at odds with the unsportsmanlike tactics displayed throughout the event.

- HERMAN GIBBS

The Moroccans, driven by an unyielding desire to win at all costs, cunningly leveraged their home advantage to maximum effect, and without shame.As hosts, they scheduled all their games at the same venue, from the group stage to the final.

Not content with enjoying the home-crowd advantage, they gave themselves a bonus: playing at one venue from start to finish. Hence, unlike all the other teams, Morocco didn’t travel to different venues for games. Morocco did not have different training venues.

This situation was unheard of in the history of AFCON. The 2025 finalists, Senegal, travelled by public train from Tangier to Rabat ahead of the 2026 AFCON final against Morocco. The unpleasant experience prompted complaints from the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) regarding a lack of security, poor organisation, and inadequate, crowded conditions at the station.