Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has rejected the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title. He stated that his team did not earn the trophy on the pitch.
The Paris Saint-Germain star told reporters that he will not accept the award. This comes after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturned the final result.
On March 17, 2026, the CAF Appeal Board ruled in favour of Morocco. They changed Senegalโs 1-0 win into a 3-0 forfeit. CAF said Senegal broke rules by walking off the pitch.
“My mum told me to reject the AFCON trophy. Iโm officially rejecting it and hope my teammates do the same,” Hakimi said. He added that Senegal beat them fairly in the game.
Integrity Over Administrative Victory
Hakimi said he does not want to ruin the joy of the Teranga Lions. He believes that accepting a title won through a legal ruling is unfair.
“We had a chance but failed to win,” the defender admitted. He noted that Senegal worked hard for their victory. He also said that winning and losing is part of football.
According to a report by Daily Sabah, Hakimi is being praised for his sportsmanship. Many fans believe his choice protects the spirit of the game.
Meanwhile, the Senegalese Football Federation is taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). They want to overturn the CAF decision and keep their crown.
Guardiola Criticises Opaque Decisions
Even Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola also spoke about the issue on Friday. He said the decision was made “behind the scenes” without transparency.
“Itโs surprising. I donโt know the reason, but itโs a decision that was made behind the scenes,” Guardiola told the Associated Press. He noted that such hidden choices are becoming common.
He further alleged that the world is seeing a lot of chaos right now. Guardiola spoke before Manchester Cityโs Carabao Cup final against Arsenal this Sunday.
His team wants to forget their recent exit from the Champions League. They lost 5-1 on aggregate to Real Madrid earlier this week.
Senegal Seeks Legal Justice
Morocco entered the tournament as favourites but lost the final on January 18. Senegal won with a 94th-minute goal from Pape Gueye after a long delay.
The delay happened because Senegal players walked off to protest a penalty. CAF later used this action to disqualify them and award the title to Morocco.
Instead of celebrating, Hakimi has chosen to stand with his opponents. This rare action has shifted the focus from the trophy to the importance of sporting integrity.
This shows that some players value fair play more than medals. It also shows that legal battles can change the results of major sports events, long after the final whistle.
What’s your view on this awkward development? Do you support the CAF decision, Hakimi’s position or Senegal’s appeal? Do you think a team should lose a title just for protesting a refereeโs decision on the field?
