Morocco’s new head coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, congratulated his country on Thursday following CAF’s decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title in favor of Morocco.
The initial final match took place on January 18 in Rabat, where Senegal won 1-0. However, CAF ruled on Tuesday to revoke the title due to the Senegalese players walking off the pitch in protest when Morocco was awarded a penalty late in the second-half stoppage time.
Following the incident, Senegal’s players returned to the pitch and went on to score the winning goal in extra time. Morocco's coach, Ouahbi, stated, 'First of all, I would like to congratulate all Moroccans, the staff, the players, and the federation on the good news we got two days ago, which is well-deserved.'
Reaction to the Decision
Ouahbi, who replaced Walid Regragui as the head coach earlier this month, expressed his satisfaction with the decision, which was partly influenced by Regragui’s failure to win the Africa Cup of Nations.
Future Goals
Ouahbi emphasized the importance of focusing on the present and future, stating that his primary objective is to make the team competitive for the World Cup. Morocco, under Regragui, reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup and is set to compete in Group C at this year’s edition alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti.
Senegal's Appeal
The Senegalese Football Federation has announced its intention to appeal the decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), describing it as an 'unjust decision'. In contrast, the Moroccan federation welcomed CAF’s announcement for its 'respect for the rules'.
Previous Disciplinary Actions
In late January, the CAF disciplinary committee imposed disciplinary sanctions on both federations for unsportsmanlike conduct, including fines amounting to several hundred thousand euros.