The conspiracy theories seemed to be linked to a perceived close relationship between Morocco's football federation and the Confederation of African Football (Caf). Morocco have become a powerhouse in African football - regularly hosting tournaments like the Women's Afcon, and helping Caf by hosting many qualifying matches for nations who can't play at home. There was chaos when Senegal arrived in Rabat for the final, and pictures of the players walking through huge crowds - with seemingly minimal security - went viral. Complaints followed from Senegal's football federation that their original hotel wasn't good enough - and that they didn't have enough tickets for their fans. Many of the Senegal players spoke out in support of those fans.

Source: BBC March 18, 2026 15:57 UTC