The AFCON Morocco–Senegal final sparked an unprecedented wave of misinformation, with false claims spreading rapidly from social media to newspapers. Moroccan journalists, navigating this surge, navigating this wave, share their views on the phenomenon, the race for clicks, and the growing impact of misinformation on media credibility. DR ‹ › The Morocco–Senegal Africa Cup of Nations final has set precedents on more than one level: a pitch walk-off, an unprecedented CAF ruling awarding the title months after the final, and a surge in fake news. Attributed statements that were never made, a supposed Morocco 1976 walk-off that never happened, and many other viral claims that, at first glance, looked legitimate but relied solely on rumors and unverified social media posts. Shared at lightning speed online, this misinformation quickly made its way into newspapers, magazines, and even reputable media organizations, granting it a false sense of legitimacy. Moroccan journalists were not spared from this wave. While covering AFCON, they, like readers, had to navigate it, verify it, and, in many cases, draw lessons from it. The importance of archives «My first reaction was frustration», said sports journalist Said El Abadi, capturing the confusion that spread beyond social media and into professional newsrooms. What shocked him most was «seeing the general public, and even professional media outlets, particularly in France, supposedly made up of thoughtful and educated individuals, unable to verify whether information was true or not». El Abadi, author of The History of African Football, was personally confronted with one of the most viral false claims in the Morocco–Senegal–CAF saga: allegations that Morocco had walked off the pitch during its 1976 match against Guinea. A claim debunked by Yabiladi, yet relayed by major outlets. «Having recently written a book on the subject, it made me realize even more the importance of archives», he noted. Beyond the factual error, he also pointed to a deeper issue within the profession. «When you claim to be a 'neutral' media outlet, you verify your information, or at the very least, you make it clear if you are aligned with a particular side». «Media credibility is already declining, and if sports journalists start spreading fake news from social media, we won't move forward», he warned. Between visibility and credibility For other journalists, the issue goes beyond neutrality and points to a race for visibility and engagement. In a context where Morocco is «trending», some see an incentive to publish quickly, sometimes at the expense of accuracy, says sports journalist and co-founder of The10, Nassim El Kerf. «We know that if you write an article about Morocco, especially in an international outlet, you will get high readership and strong engagement», he explained. «It is almost guaranteed, because Moroccans will read and interact with the content, particularly on social media». «It becomes a form of ragebait. People react to prove it wrong, to defend, to argue, especially when the news is negative or accusatory toward Morocco. Moroccan internet users are highly engaged, and some media outlets unfortunately exploit this to generate views», he added. Reacting to the 1976 false claim, El Kerf dismissed it outright: «I may not have lived that period, but we know exactly what happened in that match, who scored, who assisted, every detail. It was Morocco's first AFCON title. You cannot suddenly introduce a claim like a walk-off and expect us not to have known about it all these years». He also highlighted the role of emotion in amplifying misinformation. «Football is a sport driven by emotion, where logic often takes a back seat», he noted. «People tend to equate football with nationalism, which is concerning. A nation and a football team are not the same, and journalism about football should remain neutral». When corrections fail to follow Beyond the spread of false information, another issue raised by journalists is what happens after the facts are established. «What is even more troubling is that when these claims turn out to be false, there are very few corrections afterward», said journalist Faiza Rhoul. «No errata, no clarifications, no right of reply. At that stage, we are no longer dealing with simple mistakes, but with a form of editorial drift». She points directly to the role of social media in this dynamic. «We are witnessing a reversal of roles, where unverified information feeds into supposedly professional channels», she explained. «This creates a snowball effect, amplifying misinformation and further blurring the line between rumor and verified news». Official responses vs fake news On the ground, the consequences of this dynamic are very real. Moroccan journalist and correspondent for Dutch media, Samira Jadir, found herself dealing directly with viral rumors while covering AFCON. She recalls facing unverified claims about a death among stadium security staff during the unrest surrounding the Morocco–Senegal final. «People were asking why I wasn't reporting it. My position was clear: as long as there is no official confirmation, I cannot relay that kind of information», she said. «It's not always easy, because people expect quick reactions, but without verified sources, it's irresponsible to spread rumors», she insisted. For Jadir, one of the main challenges remains access to reliable information, which leaves room for the spread of fake news. «I remember cases where reports about dismissals or incidents were widely shared, only to be denied later by official sources. This shows how quickly misinformation can spread, especially when there is no immediate clarification». She also stressed the need for faster responses from official sources. «Sometimes you need to wait for confirmation, and that delay leaves room for speculation and false narratives to take hold. In today's fast-paced media environment, that gap can be easily exploited», she said. At the same time, she insists that responsibility ultimately lies with journalists as well. «Especially in sports journalism, football adds another layer. It is a highly emotional space, where nationalism and rivalry can easily take over». Beyond the noise and the viral frenzy, the AFCON saga has ultimately highlighted a simple truth: in an era of instant information, the real value of journalism lies in taking the time to verify, question, and get it right.
