Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has turned down the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, saying Morocco did not merit it after losing the final.
The Paris Saint-Germain defender said neither he nor his teammates should accept the trophy, regardless of the decision taken by the Confederation of African Football.
His reaction came after Morocco’s defeat to Senegal in the tournament final.
“My mum told me to reject the AFCON trophy. I’m officially rejecting it and hope my teammates do same. We had a chance but failed to win,” Hakimi said.
He accepted the outcome of the match, insisting Senegal were the rightful winners and warning against anything that could take away from 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 hardwork,” he said.
Hakimi added that although he respects CAF’s decision, he cannot receive a title he feels Morocco did not win on the field.
“I respect the CAF decision but I’m officially rejecting the trophy. I didn’t win 2025 AFCON. Congratulations to Senegal once again,” he said.
The development marks a rare moment in football, with a player refusing recognition in the interest of sporting fairness.
Morocco were widely considered one of the favourites for the tournament but came up short, while Senegal’s victory was broadly seen as deserved based on their display.
On March 17, 2026, the CAF Appeal Board ruled in Morocco’s favour, citing Senegal’s walk-off as forfeiture under the regulations and changing the 1–0 outcome to 3–0.
The Senegalese Football Federation has said it will challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
