Speculation surrounding the dramatic withdrawals of Senegal players ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco has resurfaced, but the allegations remain unsubstantiated and unsupported by medical evidence.

Five days after the match, comments attributed to Ismail Jakobs in an interview with German broadcaster Sportdigital, and later relayed by Sport, have reignited suspicions that several Lions of Teranga players may have been poisoned before the final. However, no official investigation, medical report or independent finding has corroborated such claims.

Three Senegal players were affected by sudden illness on matchday. Krépin Diatta was withdrawn after falling ill on the morning of the final, while Ousseynou Niang collapsed during the warm-up and was escorted off the pitch.

Reports also suggested that Pape Matar Sarr experienced discomfort at half-time. The incidents caused visible concern within the Senegal camp but were handled immediately by medical personnel.

Jakobs was quoted as saying the episode was “certainly not a coincidence” and suggested the players’ symptoms went beyond what he described as “simple food poisoning.” However, he stopped short of accusing any party, and crucially, no evidence has since emerged to support a theory of deliberate poisoning.

Medical examinations conducted on the affected players failed to detect any toxic substances or abnormalities.

Diatta himself confirmed earlier in the week that extensive tests carried out during his hospitalisation revealed nothing unusual.

“I was hospitalised and had several tests, but they didn’t detect anything,” he said in an interview with Seneweb, adding that he was later discharged after further observation.

Football authorities, including CAF, have not issued any statements supporting claims of foul play, and no formal complaint or investigation has been announced. In the absence of medical proof or official findings, the allegations remain speculative.

While the circumstances surrounding the players’ illnesses were unusual and understandably unsettling, experts caution against concluding without verifiable evidence. For now, the withdrawals remain classified as unexplained medical incidents rather than proven acts of misconduct.

As emotions from the dramatic AFCON final continue to settle, officials and observers have urged restraint, stressing the importance of relying on confirmed facts rather than conjecture in assessing one of the tournament’s most controversial episodes.

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By Kunle Solaja, who was in Morocco

As Morocco played host to the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations, one Casablanca-based agency quietly became a backbone of the tournament’s massive human traffic. Moumen Travel, led by CEO Houda El Kinani, was at the heart of travel, accommodation and mobility arrangements for hundreds of fans, media professionals and supporters who flooded Morocco for Africa’s biggest football showpiece.

With supporters arriving from Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, Moumen Travel managed logistics for nearly 1,000 visitors during the month-long tournament. The assignments covered hotel bookings across multiple host cities, coordinated local transportation, airport transfers, stadium access, and the procurement of match tickets, tasks that demanded precision, speed and local expertise.

“The Africa Cup of Nations brought an incredible wave of visitors into Morocco,” El Kinani told Sports Village Square. “Our role was to ensure that from the moment the visitors landed to the moment they departed, their experience was smooth, safe and memorable.

“We wanted them to have good memories of Morocco and for them to know that Morocco has more to offer than just football.”

“We create tailor-made itineraries to suit desires and budget”, says Houda El Kinani

Operating across Morocco’s AFCON host cities, Moumen Travel coordinated shuttle services between match venues, hotels and cultural and historical sites, while also arranging excursions that allowed visitors to explore the country beyond football, historic medinas, coastal towns and cultural landmarks.

According to El Kinani, “every traveller is unique, which is why we create tailor-made itineraries to suit desires and budget. Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway or a family adventure, we design experiences that reflect who you are and what you want.”

Beyond AFCON 2025, Moumen Travel’s clients enjoyed the opportunity to explore Morocco’s rich tourist attractions and experience the beauty of the kingdom.

Founded in 2012 and managed by El Kinani since 2017, Moumen Travel has built strong roots in West Africa, particularly in Senegal, where it began by organising religious pilgrimages to Fez for followers of the Tijaniyya Sufi order, before expanding into leisure tourism and major sporting events.

El Kinani says that her outfit is looking forward to assisting the teams, fans, media men and other tourists during the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which will also be held in Morocco in March and April.

Her background in marketing, communication and film production, she says, prepared her for the pressures of AFCON logistics.

Her professional journey includes leadership at Moumen Travel, where she directed operations and cultivated strong client relationships. She had also been involved in film production.

These roles reflect her ability to move seamlessly between organisational leadership and artistic collaboration.

Beyond her career, Houda is deeply rooted in Moroccan culture and values. She is passionate about fostering cross-cultural connections, a trait shaped by her years abroad in France. Friends and colleagues often describe her as warm, approachable, and family-oriented, with a strong sense of community.

While she keeps her private life discreet, it’s clear that her family ties and cultural heritage play an important role in shaping her outlook and professional ethos.

“Managing productions taught me how to handle people, pressure and unexpected problems. AFCON was like a live production—only on a continental scale.”

As fans departed Morocco in organised batches after the final, Moumen Travel once again handled outbound logistics, bringing its AFCON operation to a successful close—one that reinforced Morocco’s growing reputation as a world-class host and the agency’s standing as a trusted sports tourism partner.

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Morocco’s King Mohammed VI said on Thursday that African fraternity would prevail after what he described as “deplorable” acts that marred the closing minutes of the Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal.

Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in protest at a VAR-awarded penalty before returning to beat hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time on Sunday.

Groups of Senegalese fans clashed with Moroccan security as they tried to enter the pitch following the penalty decision.

Senegal has long been one of Morocco’s closest allies in Africa, where Moroccan firms and banks have expanded investments in recent years, strengthening the kingdom’s diplomatic influence.

Hours after the final, social media in both countries was under the spell of tension.

The final had been marred by “regrettable incidents” and “deplorable behaviour,” the king said in a palace statement.

“Once the passion and emotions have subsided, inter‑African fraternity will naturally prevail,” he said.

“Nothing can undermine the close ties forged over the centuries between our African peoples, nor the fruitful cooperation built with countries across the continent and strengthened by increasingly ambitious partnerships,” he added.

The tournament had also showcased Morocco’s development and represented “a success for all of Africa,” he said.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said it would take “appropriate action” after reviewing the match incidents, while FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned the behaviour of Senegal’s players and members of the coaching staff.

-Reuters

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