مسؤول مغربي لـ«عكاظ»: نرصد «مشجع الليزر» بالكاميرات ونتعامل معه فوراً

The head of the organizing unit for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Tangier, Morocco, Adel Farid, confirmed to "Okaz" that the security forces are ready to decisively deal with any attempts to use laser devices in the stands, emphasizing that "any fan caught with a laser will be immediately detected by the cameras, and the regulations will be applied to them without leniency."

Strict Measures

Farid explained that the information has been disseminated to the authorities responsible for monitoring and security, confirming that the use of lasers is "strictly prohibited" in the Africa Cup of Nations matches, and that dealing with violators may include confiscating the device, imposing a fine, or removing the fan from the stands.

Security Monitoring

He pointed out that the modern surveillance systems inside Moroccan stadiums allow for the rapid and accurate detection of any violations, ensuring the integrity of the competition and the safety of the players, and preventing the recurrence of previous scenes that sparked controversy in past tournaments.

Controversial Fan

The Senegalese fan Mohamed Saliou Ndiaye had sparked widespread controversy during the match between Egypt and Senegal in the playoff round for the 2022 World Cup, after he used a laser to distract the Egyptian players, including Mohamed Salah.

A Grudge Match

The match between Egypt and Senegal in the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations carries a special significance, following Egypt's loss in the final of the 2021 edition on penalties, and then being eliminated again by the "Lions of Teranga" in the same scenario during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.