Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has stated he will not accept the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title following his team’s defeat in the final, insisting the trophy should not be awarded to Morocco despite a subsequent ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Hakimi’s comments come after Morocco lost 1-0 to Senegal in the final of the tournament held in early 2025. Speaking shortly after the match, the Paris Saint-Germain defender said he and his teammates should decline the trophy, regardless of any official decision.
“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. He acknowledged Senegal as the rightful winners on the day. “Senegal beat us fairly and deserved it. It will be unfair to ruin their joy after the hard work,” he added, emphasizing that sporting integrity should be preserved.
The standoff escalated months later when, on March 17, 2026, the CAF Appeal Board overturned the final result. The board ruled that Senegal’s players had walked off the pitch during the match, constituting a forfeiture under CAF regulations. The decision changed the official scoreline to a 3-0 forfeit win for Morocco, effectively awarding them the title.
Hakimi reiterated his position following the CAF ruling. “I respect the CAF decision but I’m officially rejecting the trophy. I didn’t win 2025 AFCON,” he said. His stance underscores a principled refusal to accept a championship he believes was not earned competitively on the pitch.
The situation presents an unusual conflict between a player’s personal ethics and an official governing body’s verdict. Morocco, considered one of the tournament favourites, fell short in the final against a Senegal side whose performance was widely praised. The CAF award is based on a technical forfeiture, not a match outcome.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has announced it will appeal the CAF Appeal Board’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This legal challenge means the status of the 2025 AFCON title remains unresolved, with Morocco’s captain publicly refusing to claim it.
Hakimi’s rejection highlights the tensions that can arise between procedural rulings and the perceived spirit of competition. As the dispute moves to CAS, the final disposition of the trophy and the official record of the 2025 tournament hang in the balance.
