Morocco believe their successful appeal against their 1-0 defeat to Senegal means the case for the AFCON crown is closed.
Published on 28 March 2026
Senegal may still have the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy and have launched a legal battle against the decision to strip it, but as far as new champions Morocco are concerned, the matter is closed.
Although the Atlas Lions lost 1–0 in the January final, the Confederation of African Football gave them a 3–0 win last week as several Senegalese players left the field in protest of penalties being awarded.
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Morocco drew 1-1 against Ecuador in a friendly in Madrid on Friday, in their first match since the final and the controversial decision to penalize Senegal.
Just three months before the 2026 World Cup, it was new coach Mohammed Ouahabi’s first game.
After becoming the first African team to reach the last four in Qatar in 2022, expectations are high for Morocco, and despite Senegal’s upset, they are looking to the future.
“We are focusing on what is to come and not getting into that (topic),” Moroccan goalkeeper Yassin Bounou told reporters.
“The answer from our side (about whether the decision was fair) will be what our federation said, and that’s it… we’re looking forward.”
Thousands of Moroccan fans, many of them draped in their country’s flags and playing vuvuzelas, are convinced that justice was served.
“If someone says there are rules, you have to follow them,” said Moroccan supporter Yassin al-Aouk, 35, who came from Italy to watch the game.
“I think we’ll bring home the trophy (eventually) – we know we deserve it.”
Before winning against Senegal, Morocco had only won the Africa Cup of Nations once, in 1976.
Another Moroccan supporter, 22-year-old Taha El Hadiguy, said, “The rules are the rules… they are so clear, you go off the pitch for no reason, you lose 3-0.”
“Winning on final night is very different to winning two months later, but a win is a win. We have another star on our shirt.”
Like the players, Moroccan media were more concerned with the upcoming World Cup and Ouhabi’s tactical approach, rather than whether Senegal were right to be angry.
Ecuador coach Sebastian Bacces said he was satisfied with the draw against the “African champions”.
Despite losing 1–0 on a dramatic night in Rabat against Senegal in the AFCON final, Ouahbi’s side are now technically unbeaten in 25 matches.
They lacked precision in attack against Ecuador but Ouahbi, who led Morocco’s youngsters to Under-20 World Cup glory last year, highlighted his team’s strengths.
“I don’t talk about weaknesses. They are not weaknesses. We are a top-level team – the Ecuadorian coach reminded us of that,” Ohabi told reporters.
“If you are a top-class team, ranked eighth in the world and a World Cup semi-finalist, you don’t have weaknesses.
“You only have the strengths, and then the qualities that we lack, the areas where we are not performing, we have to make up for collectively.”
Morocco face record five-time World Cup winners Brazil in their first game of this summer’s tournament on June 13 in what is set to be one of the most intriguing matches of the group stage.
Before then, the Moroccan Federation’s lawyers may have to defend their status as African champions against Senegal’s case, but Ouahabi and his players are only looking forward to the summer, when they will have the chance to win another trophy, this time on the field.
