- Although captain Sadio Mane led his team back onto the pitch, Morocco missed the penalty
- Ouahbi expressed his satisfaction with the outcome
- “This decision pleases everyone, but it’s crucial to remain focused on the present and future
Morocco’s newly appointed coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, has expressed strong support for the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to revoke Senegal’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, calling the ruling “well-deserved.”
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the announcement, confirmed on Tuesday, March 17, overturned Senegal’s 1-0 victory in the final held in Rabat on January 18. CAF penalized the Lions of Teranga after their players briefly left the field in protest following a late penalty awarded to Morocco during stoppage time.
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Although captain Sadio Mane led his team back onto the pitch, Morocco missed the penalty, but Pape Gueye scored in extra time to initially secure what was then considered Senegal’s win.
Speaking Thursday while unveiling his first squad for upcoming friendlies against Ecuador and Paraguay, Ouahbi expressed his satisfaction with the outcome.
“First of all, I would like to congratulate all Moroccans, the staff, players, and federation, on this news from two days ago, which is well-deserved,” he said. The 49-year-old coach, who recently succeeded Walid Regragui, added that the decision had boosted morale nationwide.
“This decision pleases everyone, but it’s crucial to remain focused on the present and future. My aim is to make the team competitive for the World Cup,” Ouahbi said.
Morocco’s football federation also welcomed CAF’s ruling, praising the body for its “respect for the rules.”
Senegal, however, is challenging the verdict. Their federation announced that legal representatives have been instructed to appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, describing the decision as “unjust.”
The controversy follows CAF disciplinary actions at the end of January, when both federations were fined heavily for unsportsmanlike behavior, although the match result was not changed at that time.
With attention now on the legal proceedings, further developments may yet emerge. Meanwhile, Morocco is focused on the field, preparing for their World Cup campaign.
After their historic semi-final finish in 2022, the team is set to compete in Group C alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti.
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