Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has publicly rejected the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title awarded to his country following a highly controversial decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
CAF’s Appeal Board ruled that the final, played on January 18, 2026, at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, should be recorded as a 3-0 forfeit victory for Morocco after Senegal temporarily walked off the pitch during stoppage time. The dramatic incident occurred after a disputed VAR decision awarded Morocco a penalty for a challenge on Brahim Diaz.
Senegal protested the decision and left the pitch for approximately 15 minutes before returning to continue the match. Moments later, Pape Gueye scored in the 94th minute, a goal that many believed had secured a legitimate win for Senegal on the field.
Despite CAF’s ruling in favour of Morocco, Hakimi has distanced himself from the decision, making it clear he does not accept the title. Speaking to reporters, the 27-year-old defender said he was acting on both personal conviction and advice from his family.
“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. It will be unfair to ruin their joy after the hard work they put in. 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.
The situation has sparked widespread debate across the football world, with many questioning the balance between regulatory enforcement and on-field results. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation had initially appealed under Article 84, which governs match abandonment, leading to CAF’s decision to award the match to Morocco.
Meanwhile, Senegal’s football authorities have indicated they will escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, seeking to overturn the ruling.
The controversy has overshadowed what was expected to be a historic AFCON final, leaving African football divided over fairness, rules, and the true meaning of victory.
