King Mohammed has hailed the historic success of the African Cup of Nations hosted by Morocco December 21 through January 18 and extended his sincere thanks to all segments of the Nation whose dedication and commitment ensured the outstanding success of this major event, through which Morocco has provided, on its soil, a month of shared joy and sporting excitement, and contributed to the global visibility of Africa and African football, the Royal Office said in a statement released Thursday evening.
The King offered special congratulations to citizens across the Kingdom’s cities and regions for their collective efforts, and expressed his appreciation to everyone who contributed to this historic achievement, widely recognized and praised around the world, the statement said.
The Sovereign also commended the millions of Moroccans—women, men, and children—who supported, consistently and in an exemplary way their national team, now ranked among the world’s top eight national teams. This remarkable result reflects a forward-looking, high-level sports and infrastructure policy, as well as the patriotic decision by talented sons and daughters of Moroccans living abroad to proudly wear the national team’s jersey and represent its colors with excellence.
This edition of the continental tournament will be remembered not only for its sporting success, but also for the clear demonstration of the significant progress the Kingdom has achieved in its path toward development and modernization. It stands as the result of a long-term vision and a distinctive, effective Moroccan model that places the citizen at the center of national priorities, the statement pointed out further.
While this great continental football celebration was unfortunately overshadowed by regrettable incidents during the final minutes of the match between the Moroccan and Senegalese national teams, it remains clear that once emotions subside, the spirit of African brotherhood will prevail., the Royal Office said, adding that Morocco takes pride in having provided, on its soil, a month of shared joy and sporting excitement, and in contributing to the global visibility of Africa and African football.
In addition, in the face of criticism and attempts at discrediting these achievements, he Monarch remains confident that such hostile efforts will not succeed. «The Moroccan people, known for their wisdom and discernment, will not be drawn into resentment or division. The deep ties forged over centuries among African peoples, as well as the strong cooperation and partnerships developed with countries across the Continent, remain unshaken.»
The Kingdom of Morocco is, and will remain, a leading African nation, steadfast in its commitment to fraternity, solidarity, and mutual respect, the statement underlined, adding that Morocco, guided by the enlightened vision of the King, will continue to play an active and constructive role in advancing a united, stable, and prosperous Africa, particularly through the sharing of its experience, expertise, and know-how.