Morocco believe their successful appeal against their 1-0 defeat by Senegal means the case of the AFCON crown is closed.Published On 28 Mar 202628 Mar 2026Senegal may still possess the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy and have launched a legal battle against the decision to strip them of it, but as far as new champions Morocco are concerned, the case is closed.Although the Atlas Lions lost 1-0 in the January final, the Confederation of African Football awarded them a 3-0 victory last week because of several Senegal players leaving the pitch in protest at the award of a penalty.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listMorocco drew 1-1 against Ecuador on Friday in a friendly in Madrid, in their first match since the final and the controversial decision to punish Senegal.It was new coach Mohamed Ouahbi’s first game at the helm, just three months out from the 2026 World Cup.After becoming the first African side to reach the final four in Qatar in 2022, expectations are high for Morocco, and they are looking to the future, despite Senegal’s outrage.“We’re focused on what’s to come and not getting into that [topic],” Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou told reporters.“The answer from us [about whether the decision was fair] would be what our federation said, and that’s all … we’re looking forwards.”Thousands of Morocco fans, many draped in their country’s flag and tooting vuvuzelas, are convinced justice was served.“If someone says there are regulations, you have to follow them,” said Yassine el-Aouak, 35, a Morocco supporter who travelled to the game from Italy.“I think we will bring the trophy home [eventually] – we know that we deserve it.”Before being awarded victory against Senegal, Morocco had won the Africa Cup of Nations only once, in 1976. Advertisement “The rules are the rules … they are so clear, you go outside the pitch without any reason, you lose 3-0,” said another Morocco supporter, Taha El Hadiguy, 22.“It’s very different to winning on the night of the final, to …
