Feguifoot Clarifies Historical Facts on the 1976 CAN Match
On March 22, 2026, the Guinean Football Federation (FGF) took a definitive stance to dispel the growing rumors circulating on social media regarding the historic Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) match between Guinea and Morocco in 1976. The federation formally addressed these claims in an official statement, emphasizing that there was no truth to the speculation suggesting that Morocco had walked off the field during the match against the Syli National.
In its statement, the FGF made it clear: "The Guinean Football Federation (FGF) wishes to inform the national and international public that it has not initiated any legal proceedings either with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) or with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations." The federation strongly refuted the circulating claims, which suggested a supposed contestation of the match result, stating, "Recently, various media outlets, particularly on social networks, have erroneously reported that Guinea was attempting to contest the outcome of the match against Morocco during this tournament."
In an effort to maintain a calm atmosphere, the FGF reiterated, "This information is incorrect and lacks any official basis." The federation then outlined the actual events of the match that occurred on March 14, 1976, in Addis Ababa, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Guinea took the lead with a goal from Chérif Souleymane in the 33rd minute, before Morocco equalized in the 86th minute thanks to Ahmed Makrouh, also known as "Baba."
Understanding the Format of the 1976 CAN
Furthermore, the FGF highlighted an often-overlooked aspect of the competition's format during that period. They explained, "According to the regulations in place at the time, there was no conventional final. After an initial group stage, qualifying teams entered a final round in the form of a mini-championship." This system meant that the final standings directly determined the champion. Morocco finished at the top and was awarded the trophy, while Guinea came in second.
In conclusion, the Guinean Football Federation reaffirmed its commitment to historical accuracy and called for collective responsibility, urging media and stakeholders to prioritize verified information and to refrain from interpretations that might perpetuate confusion. This strong reminder aims to quell speculation and uphold the integrity of African football, which is founded on "the values of fair play, mutual respect, and unity." As reported by guineenews.org.
