AFCON 2025: Morocco Captain Achraf Hakimi Rejects Title,Cites Sporting Integrity
In an unprecedented move for African football, Morocco national team captain Achraf Hakimi has publicly rejected the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, following a controversial ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Despite the CAF Appeal Board’s decision on March 17, 2026, to overturn Senegal’s 1–0 final victory into a 3–0 forfeiture in favor of Morocco, the Paris Saint-Germain defender insists his team does not deserve the trophy.
“We Failed to Win on the Pitch”
Speaking on the ruling, Hakimi emphasized that victory should be earned through performance rather than administrative technicalities.
“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,” Hakimi stated. “That’s football; sometimes you win and lose. Senegal beat us fairly and deserved it. It would be unfair to ruin their joy after their hard work.”
CAF Ruling and Looming Legal Battle
The controversy stems from a CAF Appeal Board decision which cited a “walk-off” by the Senegalese team as a forfeiture under tournament regulations. This overturned the on-field result and technically handed the championship to Morocco.
However, Hakimi remains firm in his stance of respecting the spirit of the game over the official scorecard. “I respect the CAF decision, but I’m officially rejecting the trophy. I didn’t win 2025 AFCON. Congratulations to Senegal once again,” he added.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has already announced its intention to appeal the CAF ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
A Rare Moment of Integrity
Hakimi’s stance has sparked widespread debate across the continent, with many praising the captain for prioritizing “sporting integrity” over a trophy. While Morocco entered the tournament as favorites, the final on-field performance was widely viewed as a deserved triumph for Senegal before the legal intervention.
