Morocco Captain, Hakimi Rejects AFCON Title After CAF Ruling

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.

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.