Achraf Hakimi has rejected Morocco’s AFCON 2025 title after CAF awarded them a forfeit win over Senegal. The original match ended with Senegal winning 1-0 after a brief protest walk-off. The decision has raised debate about fairness and integrity in African football.
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has refused to accept the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title after a controversial ruling awarded Morocco victory over Senegal, stating that the result on the field should stand.
Hakimi, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, made his position clear following a decision by the Confederation of African Football to overturn the original final result. The ruling came after Senegal briefly walked off the pitch during the match.
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Morocco hosted the tournament and entered as one of the strongest teams, with players including Hakimi and Brahim Diaz. The final took place on January 18, 2026, at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium and ended 0-0 in regular time.
In stoppage time, a VAR-reviewed penalty was awarded to Morocco following a challenge involving Diaz. Senegal’s players protested the decision and requested a VAR review but left the field for about 15 minutes when their request was not granted.
Senegal captain Sadio Mane later convinced his teammates to return to the pitch. The game resumed, and Pape Gueye scored in the 94th minute of extra time, giving Senegal a 1-0 victory and what appeared to be their second AFCON title.
Nearly two months after the match, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation filed an appeal, citing a violation of Article 84 of AFCON regulations related to match abandonment. On March 17, 2026, CAF’s Appeal Board ruled in Morocco’s favour, awarding a 3-0 forfeit win and officially granting Morocco the title.
The decision drew criticism across African football, with concerns raised about fairness and the impact on competition integrity. Senegal’s football federation confirmed it will appeal the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Hakimi publicly rejected the title, saying: “My mum told me to reject the AFCON trophy. I’m officially rejecting it and hope my teammates do the same. We had a chance but failed to win. Senegal beat us fairly and deserved it.” He added that accepting the title would be unfair to Senegal’s effort and performance.
In a later message on the platform X, Hakimi wrote: “Energy speaks, I don’t,” reinforcing his position. His stance has highlighted ongoing debate between administrative decisions and results achieved on the field in African football.
