Moroccan national football team captain rejects African title

Achraf Hakimi has refused the trophy after the Confederation of African Football overturned Senegal’s victory in the continental showpiece

Moroccan national football team captain Achraf Hakimi has rejected the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title awarded to his team, the Akelicious news agency reported on Friday. 

The decision comes after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) stripped Senegal of its 2025 AFCON title and awarded a 3-0 victory to hosts Morocco after reviewing the final. This followed an appeal by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) after the match played on January 18, 2026, in Rabat.

Hakimi said Senegal were the rightful winners after the final on the pitch.

“My mum told me to reject the AFCON trophy. I’m officially rejecting the trophy and hope my teammates do the same. We had a chance to win it but we failed to win it. That’s football, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose,” Hakimi said, as quoted by several outlets. 

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He added that Senegal “beat us fairly and deserved the win” and said it would be unfair to take away their moment after their effort.

Hakimi also said he respects the CAF decision but does not consider himself a winner. “I didn’t win 2025 AFCON. Congratulations to Senegal once again,” he said.

The final itself was marked by controversy. The referee controversially disallowed a Senegalese goal late in the game, before awarding Morocco a penalty shortly afterwards. In protest, Senegal’s coach Pape Bouna Thiaw and his players left the field for 15 minutes. Upon their return, Morocco missed the penalty and Senegal went on to win 1-0 in extra-time.

CAF later sanctioned both teams over their conduct. Thiaw was suspended for five matches and fined, while the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) was fined about $615,000. Hakimi received a two-match suspension, and the FRMF was fined roughly $315,000.

READ MORE: African football champions stripped of continental title

The FSF condemned the ruling as “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable” and said it would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).