Senegal’s Khalilou Fadiga: ‘Moroccan People Are Friends, This Should Not Damage Our Relationship’

Rabat – As tensions continue around the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, former Senegal international Khalilou Fadiga has called for calm, urging both sides not to let football damage the relationship between Morocco and Senegal.

Speaking to French outlet Le Parisien, Fadiga does not want to be part of the growing noise surrounding the controversy.

“I prefer to keep football aside,” he said, distancing himself from the debate that has followed CAF’s decision to award Morocco the title after Senegal’s walk-off in the final.

“Moroccan people are friends,” he said. “This should not damage our brotherly relationship. I prefer to talk about our shared history and the respect between us.”

His comments come at a moment when the case is expected to move to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), where Senegal are preparing to challenge CAF’s ruling.

Fadiga acknowledged that the situation is not fully resolved yet and called for patience.

“It’s not over yet,” he said. “CAS will decide what happens next. For now, I remain calm.”

For Morocco, the title stands. Even among critics, the rules are clear, Senegal committed a clear violation of Articles 82 and 84, and therefore, the match deserves a forfeit.

CAS is known for focusing strictly on the rules. It does not decide based on pressure or public opinion, but on what the regulations say and how they were applied.

For the part of CAF, regulations strongly back the current decision. So while this AFCON saga is not yet settled, Morocco enters this next phase with a stronger position, a more robust legal foundation.

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