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Morocco Captain, Hakimi Rejects AFCON Title After CAF Ruling

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The Paris Saint-Germain defender insisted that Morocco did not deserve the trophy after losing the final to Senegal on the pitch.

Achraf Hakimi, captain of the Morocco national team, has declined to accept the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title granted to Morocco after a controversial decision by the Confederation of African Football.

The Paris Saint-Germain defender insisted that Morocco did not deserve the trophy after losing the final to Senegal on the pitch.

Morocco had lost the final to Senegal, but the CAF Appeal Board on March 17, 2026, overturned the 1–0 result, awarding Morocco a 3–0 victory after ruling that Senegal’s walk-off constituted a forfeiture.

The decision has since generated debate, with Senegal’s football federation already indicating plans to challenge the verdict at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Reacting to the development, Hakimi distanced himself from the decision, stating that he could not accept a title he did not earn competitively.

“My mum told me to reject the AFCON trophy. I’m officially rejecting it and hope my teammates do same. We had a chance but failed to win,” he said.

He maintained that Senegal deserved the victory based on their performance in the final.

“That’s football, sometimes you win and lose. Senegal beat us fairly and deserved it. It will be unfair to ruin their joy after the hardwork,” Hakimi added.

The Moroccan captain emphasised respect for fair play, noting that accepting the trophy under such circumstances would undermine the spirit of the game.

“I respect the CAF decision but I’m officially rejecting the trophy. I didn’t win 2025 AFCON. Congratulations to Senegal once again,” he said.

See also  SEE FULL LIST: Díaz, Osimhen, other top scorers after AFCON 2025 semi-finals

Hakimi’s decision represents a rare moment in football, where a player publicly declines recognition in favour of sporting integrity.

Morocco had entered the tournament as one of the favourites but fell short in the final, while Senegal’s performance was widely regarded as deserving of the title before the post-match controversy.

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CAF under pressure as Guinea contests Morocco’s 1976 AFCON win

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Guinea Football Federation has called on the Confederation of African Football to review the outcome of the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations, citing what it describes as inconsistencies following a recent ruling involving Senegal.

The appeal comes after CAF stripped Senegal of the 2025 AFCON title over a walkout incident and awarded victory to hosts Morocco, despite Senegal having won on the pitch.

Guinea’s football authorities argue that similar disciplinary standards should be applied retroactively, pointing to a key moment during the 1976 tournament, which was decided through a four-team round-robin format.

In the decisive match between Morocco and Guinea, the latter took the lead in the 33rd minute through Chérif Souleymane. Moroccan players briefly left the pitch in protest over a refereeing decision before returning to continue the game. Ahmed Makrouh later equalised in the 86th minute, securing a 1-1 draw that allowed Morocco to win the title with five points, while Guinea finished second.

Guinea has now urged CAF to reassess that result under the same principles applied in the 2025 ruling. “Give us back our 1976 AFCON trophy,” the federation said, adding that sanctions should apply in cases where teams walk off the pitch during matches.

The recent CAF decision to award Morocco a 3-0 victory over Senegal has reignited debate over historical officiating and disciplinary standards, with Guinea arguing that consistency should extend to past tournaments.

However, sports legal analysts have noted that regulations such as Article 84, cited in the Senegal case, were not in force in 1976 and are rarely applied retroactively. CAF has yet to respond to the request, with observers suggesting the appeal could test the organisation’s willingness to revisit historical decisions.

See also  I chose myself, says first trans woman to officiate UEFA match

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UCL: Bayern may start 16-year-old goalkeeper against Atalanta – Kompany

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Bayern Munich could field 16-year-old goalkeeper Prescott in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie against Atalanta, Head Coach Vincent Kompany confirmed, following a string of injuries to the club’s senior goalkeepers.

Regular starter  Manuel Neuer is still recovering from a muscle tear, while third-choice keeper Sven Ulreich suffered an adductor injury during Bayern’s 1-1 Bundesliga draw against Bayer Leverkusen.

Second-choice keeper Jonas Urbig is recovering from a concussion sustained in last week’s 6-1 win in Italy.

As reported by BBC Sport, Kompany said on Tuesday, “Jonas trained normally today. The decision tomorrow will be a medical one. If everything goes well, then Urbig will be in goal. If not, then we will have to find another solution.”

That solution could be Prescott, a German youth international who plays for Bayern’s under-19 team. As a minor, he will require clearance from German labor authorities to play in an evening match.

Kompany praised the young keeper’s composure, adding, “He is very calm. Overall, we as a staff are also calm. If he plays tomorrow he will have our full backing. Everyone will help. There will never be a young player who will be forced to play a main role. We have full confidence in him, whatever happens tomorrow.”

Neuer, 37, has appeared in 19 Bundesliga matches this season, while Urbig, 22, has eight league appearances, and Ulreich, 37, has featured once. Another teenage keeper, Leon Klanac, 19, is also sidelined with a thigh injury.

Bayern, defending Bundesliga champions and current league leaders, will face either Real Madrid or Manchester City in the UCL quarter-finals if they defeat Atalanta, making the goalkeeping situation a critical issue ahead of the high-stakes match.

See also  PHOTOS: Uyi Akpata Re-elected As Nigeria Cricket Federation President

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World cup play-off: NFF loses DR Congo petition, appeals FIFA verdict

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The Nigeria Football Federation said it has commenced the process of appealing the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which rejected its petition against the Democratic Republic of Congo on the issue of eligibility of some players used by that country in a 2026 FIFA World Cup play-off match against Nigeria in Rabat, Morocco, last November.

Nigeria lost the match 4-3 on penalties, but the NFF protested the eligibility of some players in the DR Congo squad, citing perceived fraud in the issuance of passports that qualified a number of players of the Democratic Republic of Congo for the play-off.

After months of waiting, the NFF confirmed that it had received FIFA’s verdict but has launched an appeal.

“We have received the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on our petition, but we are not satisfied with the decision, which rejected our petition.

“I want to assure Nigerians that the NFF has immediately commenced the process of appealing the decision,” said NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, in a statement on Tuesday.

DR Congo have been drawn to face the winner of the clash between the Jamaica national football team and New Caledonia national football team, with a place at the 2026 tournament at stake.

The Congolese are heading to Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico, where they will join five other countries vying for the final two places at the expanded World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

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