A document presented as an official statement from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) dating back to 1976 has been circulating on social media, but it is a blatant forgery. The document falsely claims that Guinea was awarded the title of African Champion after Morocco supposedly forfeited the final of the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). However, major factual errors discredit this document.
One of the most obvious errors is the use of the current CAF logo, which did not exist in 1976. The logo at that time was completely different. In addition, the document is signed by Yidnekatchew Tessema, presented as the CAF "Secretary General," when in reality he was the organization's President from 1972 to 1987.
It is important to distinguish this fake document from the actual facts. The 1976 AFCON was indeed held in Ethiopia, and Guinea participated in the final round. Morocco won the tournament, finishing first in a final group that also included Guinea, Nigeria, and Egypt. An incident did occur during the decisive match between Morocco and Guinea when Moroccan players briefly left the field to protest a refereeing decision. However, they returned, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
This fake document resurfaces amid tensions and debates surrounding CAF and Morocco, particularly regarding the organization of the 2025 AFCON. Some are trying to exploit history to fuel controversy. It is therefore crucial to exercise discernment and not spread false information.
The Guinean Football Federation recently urged CAF to review the outcome of the 1976 AFCON, citing Morocco's temporary interruption of the match and a recent ruling concerning Senegal. Guinea believes that the same disciplinary standards should be applied to historical matches.
CAF had withdrawn Senegal's hosting rights for the 2025 AFCON due to a match interruption, awarding the organization to Morocco. This decision has reignited discussions about past matches and CAF regulations.
Ultimately, Morocco was crowned African champion for the first time in its history during that edition of the AFCON.
