Controversial Title Change Shakes Moroccan Football Community
In a surprising turn of events, the African Football Confederation (CAF) has stripped Senegal of its Africa Cup of Nations title, originally won during a chaotic final, and awarded it to Morocco, two months after the tournament ended. This decision has sparked mixed feelings among Moroccan supporters, particularly in Casablanca, where the announcement was met with both celebration and skepticism.
On March 17, 2026, the CAF's appeal committee declared Senegal's national team to be disqualified from the final match held in Rabat, which they had won 1-0 after extra time. The committee announced that the match would be officially recorded as a 3-0 victory for Morocco. This ruling came after several Senegalese players temporarily left the pitch in protest over a controversial refereeing decision that saw a penalty awarded to Morocco in added time, following a disallowed goal for Senegal. The ensuing chaos led to Senegalese fans launching projectiles and attempting to storm the field, culminating in Moroccan player Brahim Diaz missing the disputed penalty.
The unexpected announcement late that evening prompted some Moroccan fans to take to the streets, celebrating with honks and cheers in the "white city" of Casablanca, albeit two months after the fact. However, not everyone was convinced. Sylvain, a Guinean resident, expressed disbelief over the news, while another local named Lahcene, upon hearing the announcement on the radio, exited his car to celebrate, exclaiming, "Yes, I just heard it! Thank you! It's a fair decision, justice has been served, thanks to God!"
Nearby, a café patron named Mamoune acknowledged the victory but lamented the timing of the decision. "It's a mixed feeling, a blend of joy and some confusion. We had come to terms with the loss... For me, this is a poisoned gift because now we will be criticized again, with people saying that Fouzi Lekjaa (president of the Moroccan Football Federation) is behind all this. Given the events, this should have been resolved on the day of the match, not two months later. This undermines the credibility of CAF even further," he analyzed.
The Moroccan Football Federation clarified that their appeal was not an attempt to challenge the sporting performances but rather to ensure the enforcement of CAF regulations. Conversely, the Senegalese Football Federation condemned the ruling as "an unprecedented and unacceptable decision that brings discredit to African football," and announced plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, "as soon as possible."
As reported by franceinfo.fr.
