Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has refused to accept the award granted to his team after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final. According to Akelicious, the defender said he was rejecting the decision out of principle and added that his mother had advised him to do so.
Hakimi said Morocco had a real chance to win the tournament on the pitch but failed to take it. He stressed that football includes both victories and defeats, and said he could not consider himself an African champion under these circumstances. He also expressed hope that his teammates would take the same position.
The controversy followed a ruling by the Confederation of African Football, which upheld Morocco’s appeal after the final. CAF officially awarded Senegal a 3-0 loss for leaving the field, and the victory was given to Morocco.
Despite saying he respects CAF’s decision, Hakimi made clear that he does not recognize the title as a true triumph. He ended his remarks by congratulating Senegal once again, underlining that, in his view, the trophy was not won in competition.
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