Achraf Hakimi, captain of the Atlas Lions, has announced that he will refuse the 2025 AFCON trophy. This decision follows the controversial decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to withdraw the title from Senegal and award it to Morocco.
In an exclusive statement, Hakimi explained that his decision was motivated by respect for the Senegalese team, who he considers to be the true winners on the field. "My mother told me to refuse the trophy. I officially refuse it and I hope my teammates will do the same," he said. He added, "It's football, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Senegal beat us fair and square and deserved their victory".
Hakimi stressed that it would be unfair to deprive the Senegalese of the joy of their victory, which was the result of their efforts. "I respect CAF's decision, but I officially refuse the trophy. I didn't win the 2025 AFCON. Congratulations again to Senegal," he concluded.
CAF justified its decision on March 17, 2026, by citing incidents that occurred during the final. The governing body of African football relied on Article 82 of its regulations, sanctioning Senegalese players for leaving the field during the match. This decision has provoked strong reactions, including within the Moroccan team, some of whose members have chosen to renounce the award in solidarity with their opponents.
The Senegalese Football Federation has called the decision "iniquitous, unprecedented and unacceptable" and has announced its intention to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The Royal Moroccan Football Federation, on the other hand, welcomed the decision, stating that it "upholds respect for the rules".
