The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, held in Rabat, Morocco, was no longer just a football match that ended with a technical victory; it transformed into an international public opinion issue after the revelation of "dark" behind-the-scenes events. While the world awaited a footballing spectacle, suspicious movements led by members of the Senegalese national team's coaching staff were underway, aimed—according to media reports—at turning the stadium into an arena for settling political and regional scores. With the arrest of an Algerian citizen at the heart of the riots, the outlines of an influence network led by Noureddine Bouachira, the Senegalese assistant coach, began to emerge. He was suddenly placed under suspicion as the "mastermind" behind the crisis.
The arrest of "Bouachira's brother" along with 18 Senegalese hooligans in the stands... coincidence or a plan?
Media sources dropped a bombshell when they revealed that the Algerian man arrested in connection with the riots that erupted during the final was none other than the brother of Noureddine Bouachira, the Senegalese national team's assistant coach. This family connection added a political dimension to the crisis. Noureddine Bouachira is not merely a member of the technical staff; he is described as a "strongman" with considerable influence, possessing an immense ability to sway the head coach's decisions and control the atmosphere in the locker room.
The arrest of his brother in the stands, amidst widespread chaos and attacks on Moroccan security forces, placed Bouachira in a precarious position. It lent credence to the theories suggesting that the incident was not spontaneous but rather the result of a systematic campaign aimed at tarnishing Morocco's organizational image at a time when the world's attention was focused on Rabat.
The "Media Poisoning" Strategy... The CHAN Complex and Algeria
Leaked information indicates that Noureddine Bouachira began his "mission" from the very first moments of the Senegalese delegation's arrival in Morocco. According to these accounts, he exerted intense pressure on the Senegalese coach and some players to adopt an aggressive stance against the Moroccan organizing committee.
What is surprising is Bouachira's persistent attempts to compare Morocco's current organization of the CHAN (African Nations Championship) in previous years with Algeria's organization of the tournament, in an effort to create false comparisons aimed at belittling Morocco's infrastructure. This repeated linking of Senegal to external agendas (specifically Algerian) demonstrates that Bouachira was trying to create a "mentality" within the Senegalese team that would put them on a collision course with everything Moroccan, which manifested itself in their exaggerated protests against routine refereeing decisions.
The Mystery of the "Phone Call" and the Withdrawal Decision
At the most tense moment of the match, as the referee was preparing to make his decision on the controversial penalty kick, cameras and eyewitnesses spotted Noureddine Bouachira making a lengthy and agitated phone call behind the substitutes' bench.
The strange thing is the suspicious timing; as soon as Bouachira finished his call, he went directly to the coach and players, then issued the infamous "withdrawal order" that halted the match for approximately 16 minutes. This timing raises a fundamental question: Who was Bouachira communicating with? Did he receive "orders" from outside the stadium to escalate the situation and withdraw from the match? Transforming a sporting decision (withdrawal) into a political act requires high-level directives, which reinforces suspicions about Bouachira's role as a liaison between parties seeking to undermine the Moroccan Africa Cup of Nations.
Bouachira... Influence Beyond Sporting Tactics
Who is the Algerian Noureddine Bouachira? Those close to the "Lions of Teranga" describe him as the one who holds the "keys" to the national team. His ability to communicate in multiple languages and his extensive network of contacts allowed him to exert significant influence within the coaching staff.
However, it seems this influence was exploited for purposes unrelated to sports. Instead of focusing on the players' mental preparation to face the pressure of the fans in the final, Bouachira was preoccupied with inflaming passions and directing attacks towards the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the host country. This “sabotage” role – as some analysts described it – caused Senegal to lose focus during crucial minutes and could have led to a footballing disaster had the withdrawal continued for longer.
The Crisis’s Impact on Sporting Relations (Morocco-Senegal)
Historically, Morocco and Senegal have enjoyed strong fraternal and sporting ties. However, the actions of individuals like Bouachira and his suspended brother have put these relations to a difficult test. The Moroccan fans, who had warmly welcomed the Senegalese team, were shocked by the “hostile” reaction displayed by the Senegalese coaching staff, allegedly at Bouachira’s behest.
Experts believe this incident should prompt the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to investigate not only the withdrawal itself but also the “external interference” and the presence of individuals within the coaching staff with agendas aimed at destabilizing continental competitions. If it is proven that Bouachira was carrying out a specific agenda, he should be personally sanctioned with a ban from participating in any continental sporting activity.
Media and Systematic Incitement
Bouachira's efforts didn't stop at the stadium; they extended to directing certain media outlets (outside Senegal) to adopt the narrative of a "conspiracy against Senegal." This narrative, concocted behind closed doors, aimed to cover up the failure to exercise restraint and transform the aggressor (who withdrew and encouraged the riot) into a victim.
The events in Rabat revealed that the conflict wasn't just about football, but also a media and psychological war in which "the Algerian Bouachira" was used as a tool of pressure, exploiting his proximity to decision-making centers within the Senegalese national team.
Protecting Football from "Behind-the-Scenes Poisons"
What happened in the 2025 final is a wake-up call for everyone involved in African sports. The presence of an assistant coach engaging in "incitement" and directing the team to withdraw based on suspicious phone calls, along with his brother's presence in the stands amidst the riot, are details that cannot be overlooked.
Everyone must understand that Morocco, which successfully organized an exceptional tournament as attested to by FIFA and its president, Infantino, will not allow "backroom opportunists" to tarnish its achievements. As for Bouachira, his name will forever be associated with one of the darkest chapters in the history of the Senegalese national team, not because of technical shortcomings, but because he turned the football pitch into a stage for failed political machinations. The ball is now in the court of the international investigative committees to uncover the full details of the "Rabat phone call" and the ensuing chaos.
