Officials and reports have debunked viral AFCON assassination claims about journalists being killed during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. No evidence points to foul play in the deaths of two people linked to the tournament.
One was a Malian sports reporter, and the other a Cameroonian fan who worked for a telecom company. Rumours spread fast online amid gripes over referee calls and event mishaps, but authorities say investigations show nothing suspicious so far.
The story started with Mohamed Soumaré, a 32-year-old journalist from Mali. He was found dead in his Rabat hotel room on January 14, 2026, just before the semifinals. Soumaré covered African football for years, working as a media officer for Stade Malien de Bamako and handling marketing for Mali’s pro league.
He was in Morocco to report on the tournament’s final stages. Hotel staff discovered him unresponsive that morning. Moroccan police got involved right away, and forensic teams checked the scene. Early word from authorities suggested natural causes, maybe a heart issue, but they’re waiting on an autopsy. No signs of violence turned up.
Colleagues held a minute of silence for Soumaré at the next game. Tributes poured in from across Africa. One Malian outlet called him a key voice in sports journalism.
His death hit hard, especially after Mali lost 1-0 to Senegal in the quarters. But some posts twisted it. They claimed he got killed for calling out improper refereeing or corruption in the tournament. That sparked wild stories online.
Then there’s Audry Ibohn Njoh. He died around the same time in his hotel room too. But Njoh wasn’t a journalist. He worked for MTN in Cameroon and came as a big fan of the Indomitable Lions.
Reports say no obvious injuries or illness signs. He left a wife and kids back home. Cameroonians shared shock on social media. Investigations are still going, but again, nothing points to murder.
Social media blew this up. Posts called both deaths assassinations tied to Moroccan officials or CAF, the tournament organisers. One Instagram reel claimed Soumaré criticised refs days before dying.
Others linked it to broader complaints about bias toward host Morocco. The Atlas Lions faced Cameroon in the quarters, winning 2-0 amid referee disputes. Morocco’s coach shot down bias claims, saying his team earned it. But frustrations boiled over, especially after VAR calls in games.
Fact-checks show no proof for these rumours. Moroccan authorities say no foul play in either case. CAF haven’t commented much, but they urged calm.
Press freedom groups called for transparency, but they didn’t back assassination theories. One source noted the timing sparked speculation, but jumping to conclusions helps no one.
This AFCON has seen its share of drama. Held in Morocco from December 2025 to now, it’s the first there since 1988. Security got praise early on, with even U.S. FBI folks studying it for the 2026 World Cup.
But issues popped up. Teams griped about logistics, like Senegal’s federation complaining about poor hotel setups and missing security at arrivals. They called it unacceptable for a big event.
Refereeing stole headlines too. Morocco felt robbed in spots, like missed penalties against Cameroon. Other nations, like Algeria, dealt with ball theft rumours that turned out false.
A Congolese fan went viral for standing like Patrice Lumumba’s statue, then got mocked after a loss. Fake news spread, like a coup claim in the Ivory Coast tied to old AFCON clips.
The final yesterday was wild. Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in extra time at Rabat’s stadium. Pape Gueye scored the winner after Morocco’s Brahim Díaz botched a late penalty.
Senegal walked off briefly protesting the spot kick but came back. It marked their second title, after 2021. Morocco, as hosts, pushed hard but fell short. Fans clashed outside, adding to the chaos.
Amid all this, the deaths stand out as tragedies, not plots. Soumaré’s family awaits answers, and Njoh’s loved ones grieve. Officials promise full reports soon. For now, focus shifts to celebrating Senegal’s win while remembering those lost. Tournaments like this unite Africa, but rumours divide. Stick to facts, folks say.
