Rabat, DZWatch – The sudden absence of Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan from the closing ceremony of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by the Kingdom, has ignited widespread speculation in Moroccan media and among the public. Instead of the young prince presenting the trophy to the winning team, Senegal, his uncle Prince Moulay Rachid, brother of King Mohammed VI, appeared, a move that surprised many observers.
The protocol shift extended beyond the final match. The following day, Moulay Rachid received the Moroccan national team at the Royal Palace to congratulate them on reaching the final, despite their loss to Senegal. Traditionally, this reception is conducted by the King himself, or, in his absence, by the Crown Prince. The unusual arrangement has fueled questions about the real reasons behind this altered protocol.
It is customary for King Mohammed VI or Crown Prince Moulay Hassan to be at the forefront of such significant national events, their presence lending a symbolic and patriotic weight to the occasion. What, then, prompted this departure from established practice?
Adding to the intrigue is the timing of the announcement regarding the King’s health. The royal statement, indicating a health condition preventing him from carrying out his duties directly, came shortly after the Algerian team’s elimination from the tournament by Nigeria in the quarter-finals. Some observers interpret this timing as deliberate, rather than coincidental. The focus of Algerian media and the public on the shock of their team’s unexpected defeat may have served to lessen regional attention on the news of the Moroccan King’s health concerns, given the historical rivalry between the two countries and their mutual interest in each other’s leadership.
While the Crown Prince was present at the Moroccan team’s initial matches, his subsequent and unannounced absence from the major sporting event hosted by the Kingdom is noteworthy. Adding to the mystery, the Royal Palace issued only one statement in the name of King Mohammed VI throughout the entire tournament.
