Morocco international Achraf Hakimi has publicly rejected the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title awarded to his country, insisting that true victory belongs to Senegal following events surrounding the tournament’s controversial conclusion.
In a heartfelt statement, Hakimi revealed that his decision was influenced by personal conviction and guidance from his mother, emphasizing the importance of fairness and sportsmanship in football.
“My mum told me to reject the AFCON trophy. I’m officially rejecting the trophy and hope my teammates do the same,” Hakimi stated. “We had a chance to win it but we failed to win it. That’s football—sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.”
The Paris Saint-Germain full-back acknowledged Senegal’s performance, stressing that the West African side earned their triumph on merit. “Senegal beat us fairly and deserved the win. It will be unfair to ruin their joy after the hard work they put in,” he added.
Hakimi’s remarks come in the wake of a contentious decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to reassign the AFCON 2025 title to Morocco, a move that has sparked widespread debate across the footballing world.
Despite expressing respect for CAF’s authority, Hakimi maintained that he could not personally accept the title under such circumstances. “I respect the CAF decision but I’m officially rejecting the trophy. I didn’t win 2025 AFCON. Congratulations to Senegal once again,” he concluded.
The statement has since generated mixed reactions among fans and analysts, with many praising Hakimi’s integrity while others question the broader implications for CAF’s decision-making process.
As the controversy continues to unfold, Hakimi’s stance underscores a rare moment in modern football where personal ethics have taken center stage over official recognition, reigniting discussions about fairness, governance, and the spirit of the game in African football.
