Captain of the Morocco national football team, Achraf Hakimi, has rejected the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, insisting his team did not deserve to be crowned champions despite a ruling in their favour.
Hakimi, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, said he would not accept the trophy under any circumstances, maintaining that Morocco failed to earn victory on the pitch.
His reaction follows Morocco’s defeat to the Senegal national football team in the tournament final before a controversial decision by the Confederation of African Football overturned the result.
“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 performance, describing them as deserving winners and warning against any move that could diminish their achievement.
“That’s football, sometimes you win and lose. Senegal beat us fairly and deserved it. It will be unfair to ruin their joy after the hard work,” he added.
Hakimi reiterated his respect for CAF’s authority but stressed that he could not accept a title he believes was not won on merit.
“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.
The controversy stems from a March 17, 2026, ruling by CAF’s Appeal Board, which awarded Morocco a 3–0 victory, citing Senegal’s walk-off during the final as a forfeiture under competition regulations.
However, the Senegalese Football Federation has rejected the decision and announced plans to challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Hakimi’s stance marks a rare moment in international football, where a player publicly declines official recognition in defence of sporting integrity, even as the dispute over the AFCON 2025 final continues.
