Hadji insists Morocco must claim 2025 Africa Cup of Nations despite CAS ruling still pending

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has not yet ruled, but Mustapha Hadji has no doubt: Morocco must be declared 2025 African nations champion. The former midfielder for the Lions of the Atlas (64 caps, 1993–2002) and 1998 African Ballon d’Or winner spoke to Arab media outlet Kooora, nine months after a final with unprecedented twists.

Recap of events. On January 18, 2026 in Rabat, Senegal won the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations against Morocco (1–0, after extra time), thanks to a goal from Pape Gueye. But the match had nearly never reached its conclusion: at 90+8, after a penalty was awarded in Morocco’s favour, a large portion of Senegalese players left the pitch on instruction from their manager. Captain Sadio Mané eventually went to fetch them from the dressing room, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala ordered play to resume, and Brahim Diaz missed his attempt with a panenka.

On March 17, CAF’s appeals jury reversed the verdict by awarding victory to Morocco by default, ruling that the Senegalese players’ abandonment of the pitch justified this sanction. The Senegalese federation immediately appealed to CAS. The three arbitrators appointed to rule are still deliberating; their decision, which will be binding on CAF, is expected at the end of November. The trophy remains in the possession of the Senegalese federation, which presented it to its people the day after the initial triumph.

“Morocco committed no fault, while the Senegalese players left the pitch. The law therefore says Morocco has the right to recover the Africa Cup,” Hadji declared. He added: “We did not steal the Cup. We won it according to the regulations and the events that occurred on the pitch.”

The legal crux remains unresolved. While abandonment of the pitch does constitute a regulatory offence, the fact that the referee ordered play to resume — and the match went to completion — complicates the analysis. CAS will have to determine whether the on-field official’s decision takes precedence over CAF’s subsequent disciplinary sanction. The answer, expected in a few weeks, will determine which country enters history as 2025 African champion.