Morocco believe their successful appeal of their 1-0 loss to Senegal means the litigation over their AFCON laurels is over.
Published March 28, 2026
Senegal may still retain the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy and have launched a legal battle against the decision to strip it away, but as far as new champions Morocco are concerned, the case is over.
Atlas Lions lost 1-0 in January’s final, but the Confederation of African Football last week gave Atlas Lions a 3-0 win after several Senegalese players left the pitch in protest of being awarded a penalty.
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On Friday, Morocco drew 1-1 with Ecuador in a friendly in Madrid, their first match since the controversial final against Senegal.
The match, just three months away from the 2026 World Cup, was the first match for new coach Mohamed Ouabi.
Expectations are high for Morocco, who became the first African team to reach the final four at the Qatar 2022 tournament, and are looking to the future despite Senegal’s anger.
“We are focused on what’s going to happen and we won’t go into that (topic),” Morocco goalkeeper Yassin Bounou told reporters.
“The answer from us (on whether the decision was fair) will be what our federation said and that’s all that matters… We’re looking forward.”
Thousands of Moroccan fans, many wearing their country’s flag and tooting vuvuzelas, are convinced that justice has been served.
“If someone says there are regulations, you have to follow them,” said Yassin El Aouak, 35, a Moroccan supporter who traveled from Italy to attend the match.
“I think we’ll (eventually) take home the trophy. We know we deserve it.”
Before their victory over Senegal, Morocco had won the African Cup of Nations only once, in 1976.
“Rules are rules…the rules are very clear. If you go off the pitch for no reason, you lose 3-0,” said Taha El Hadighi, 22, a fellow Moroccan supporter.
“Winning on finals night is very different than winning two months later, but a win is a win. Another star on our shirt.”
Like the players, the Moroccan media were more concerned with the upcoming World Cup and Ouabi’s tactical approach than whether Senegal was right to be upset.
Ecuador’s coach Sebastian Bekkasese said he was happy with the draw against the “African champions”.
Ouabi’s side are now technically unbeaten in 25 games, despite losing 1-0 to Senegal in the AFCON final on a dramatic night in Rabat.
Although they lacked precision in attack against Ecuador, Ouabi, who led Morocco’s young players to U-20 World Cup glory last year, highlighted the team’s strength.
“I don’t talk about weaknesses. It’s not a weakness. We are a top-level team. The Ecuadorian coach reminded us of that,” Ujabi told reporters.
“If you are a top-level team, such as being ranked 8th in the world and advancing to the World Cup semi-finals, you don’t have any weaknesses.
“You only have strengths, and we all have to make up for the qualities we lack or the areas where we underperform.”
Morocco will face a record five-time World Cup champions Brazil in their first match of this summer’s tournament on June 13th, in what will be one of the most interesting group stage fixtures.
By then, the Moroccan federation’s lawyers may have to defend their status as African champions against Senegal’s lawsuit, but Ouabi and his players are just looking forward to the summer, when they will have the chance to win another trophy, this time on the pitch.
