Achraf Hakimi, captain of Morocco’s national football team and Paris Saint-Germain defender, has openly rejected the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title following Morocco’s controversial loss to Senegal in the tournament final.
Hakimi stated that regardless of the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) ruling, neither he nor his teammates should accept the trophy.
“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 said.
He acknowledged Senegal’s victory on the pitch, emphasizing that the West African side were deserving champions and warning against actions that could detract from their accomplishment.
“That’s football—sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Senegal beat us fairly and deserved it. It would be unfair to ruin their joy after all their hard work,” he added.
Hakimi also expressed respect for CAF’s decision but reaffirmed his personal refusal to accept a title he believes Morocco did not earn on the pitch.
“I respect the CAF decision, but I’m officially rejecting the trophy. I didn’t win the 2025 AFCON. Congratulations to Senegal once again,” he said.
This stance from a leading player highlights a rare and principled moment in football, underscoring the value of sporting integrity over administrative decisions.
Morocco, considered one of the favourites, fell short in the final, while Senegal’s triumph was widely seen as well earned based on their performance.
On March 17, 2026, CAF’s Appeal Board overturned the original 1–0 result, awarding a 3–0 victory to Morocco due to Senegal’s walk-off being ruled a forfeiture under regulations. In response, the Senegalese Football Federation has announced plans to appeal the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
