African Football Discussion Thread Current Topic: 👉 AFCON 2025/2026

[Slow death]

Morocco cannot remember the last time they won the Afcon tournament

It has been 50 years since Morocco last won the AFCON, and that's a very long time. According to this website:

https://www.britannica.com/sports/Africa-Cup-of-Nations-winners-2227474

the last time Morocco won the AFCON was in 1976, during the years when many African countries were gaining independence.

and since they were the host of the 2025 Afcon tournament, they want to use home advantage to lift the Afcon cup.

Unfortunately, this behavior isn't unique to Morocco; all African countries share this mindset: when a team organizes a tournament, they immediately believe it will be a significant advantage in winning. Therefore, the police and referees often serve the organizing team. The referees don't explicitly show their support for the organizing team, but they officiate in a way that gives the home team the greatest advantage.

[Iroh]

I didn't know about the Fair Play Award to Morocco but, at this point, I can't even say I'm surprised, they clearly wanted Morocco to win the competition. It's a pity to see this type of things because it really makes you wonder how far corruption can go. So many wrong things happened in this final, the CAF doesn't come out well, at all.

It's crazy how Morocco would be awarded the fair play award after trying all they could to frustrate the opposition. It was quite embarrassing and shameful to watch some of the Moroccoan players, their ball boys and even an official engage in stupid acts meant to frustrate their opposition. They did it with Nigeria and again, they, without any shame, did it again while playing against Senegal. Giving them the fair play award is plain crazy.
The brazen impunity displayed by Morocco should never be encouraged but unfortunately this fair play award given to them does just that.

[Fiatless]

But why did they want this? did they deserve it better because they were the host? or because they have shown better facilities than most African countries possess to be able to host this competition? They looked too entitled and showed to the world that they are bad losers.

Do you think this recent show from the Moroccans will affect their chances of hosting future major competitions? They have interest to host the AFCON in 2028.

https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2025/12/273178/morocco-reportedly-considers-bid-to-host-afcon-2028/

I would have to commend the organisers of the Afcon in Morocco for the world-standard facilities that were put in place. The host showed that African football is developing rapidly in terms of quality stadiums.

CAF and FIFA have to investigate the allegations that have been filled against all the teams. A comprehensive report should be published and defaulters santioned accordingly. Howver, form my observation Morrocco should be sanctios, if possible  banned from hosting any competition for some years.

[Fivestar4everMVP]

I didn't know about the Fair Play Award to Morocco but, at this point, I can't even say I'm surprised, they clearly wanted Morocco to win the competition. It's a pity to see this type of things because it really makes you wonder how far corruption can go. So many wrong things happened in this final, the CAF doesn't come out well, at all.

It's crazy how Morocco would be awarded the fair play award after trying all they could to frustrate the opposition. It was quite embarrassing and shameful to watch some of the Moroccoan players, their ball boys and even an official engage in stupid acts meant to frustrate their opposition. They did it with Nigeria and again, they, without any shame, did it again while playing against Senegal. Giving them the fair play award is plain crazy.
The brazen impunity displayed by Morocco should never be encouraged but unfortunately this fair play award given to them does just that.

It is very unfortunate and embarrassing to be honest, with the way things happened, it's no longer a debate whether or not CAF had a candidate they wanted to win the AFCON in mind because we all have seen and come to the conclusion that Morocco was their choosen candidate, I was browsing on X this afternoon and came across a tweet where the user was saying that Morocco through backdoor had already paid CAF to ensure that they gain support to win the AFCON, but as we all saw, things didn't turn out as CAF initially arranged it and right now, CAF must do everything within their power to ensure they appease Morocco so they do not bring issues that could leak the contractial agreement..

I doubted the above but with this fair play award given to Morocco, I am beginning to believe that indeed, the claim that morocco had initially paid to win the AFCON which they ended up not getting is a true.. 🤔

[Nightwatchmare]

Morocco cannot remember the last time they won the Afcon tournament

It has been 50 years since Morocco last won the AFCON, and that's a very long time. According to this website:

https://www.britannica.com/sports/Africa-Cup-of-Nations-winners-2227474

the last time Morocco won the AFCON was in 1976, during the years when many African countries were gaining independence.

Staying 50 years without winning Afcon cup is a lot of years. I see the reason Morocco was doing everything possible for them to win the 2025 Afcon cup. I am imagining how Morocco could stay for 50 years without winning the Afcon cup after they last won it in 1976 because Morocco has one of the best teams in African.

and since they were the host of the 2025 Afcon tournament, they want to use home advantage to lift the Afcon cup.

Unfortunately, this behavior isn't unique to Morocco; all African countries share this mindset: when a team organizes a tournament, they immediately believe it will be a significant advantage in winning. Therefore, the police and referees often serve the organizing team. The referees don't explicitly show their support for the organizing team, but they officiate in a way that gives the home team the greatest advantage.

Some people were blaming Senegal players for walking out of the field of play when they felt the referee was being biased to them, but i so much like what Senegal did because that was the only way they could stop Morocco from using their influence as host of the Afcon tournament to lift the Afcon cup.

[Callido]

I would have to commend the organisers of the Afcon in Morocco for the world-standard facilities that were put in place. The host showed that African football is developing rapidly in terms of quality stadiums.

CAF and FIFA have to investigate the allegations that have been filled against all the teams. A comprehensive report should be published and defaulters santioned accordingly. Howver, form my observation Morrocco should be sanctios, if possible  banned from hosting any competition for some years.

It was only the infrastructural side of Morocco that was enjoyed in the AFCON, the stadiums and other facilities were alright as well, but the behavior by the Moroccans truly surprised us, they didn't just come to play in the AFCON or hosted the AFCON as the host for the tournament, they had the motive of winning the AFCON using every means they possibly can.

Any sanction Morocco claims to file against Senegal is useless, the tried to stress their opponents mentally in a way it will affect their performance, rob with VAR and referee, drag items meant for the keeper, gave their own fans tickets that were suppose for the other side, many other things which they did wrong to mess with the players, it's wrong for them to make such move.

[Spaceman1000$]

Morocco almost tarnished the image of the African cup of Nations, I don't think they almost did but they did tarnish the image of African football something that took so long to build.
How can you host the African cup of Nations and now feel entitled to lifting the title it does not even make any sense to me. The towel incidence with goal keepers still baffles me, I was also very disgusted to see Hakimi with so much exposure doing it, taking the goal keeper's towel and throwing it away.

Yes, Morocco almost tarnished the image of African football, but Sadio Mane good gesture of not following his teammates to walk out of the field of play saved African football, and that good gesture also prevented Senegal from being disqualified in the Afcon finals. Morocco cannot remember the last time they won the Afcon tournament, and since they were the host of the 2025 Afcon tournament, they want to use home advantage to lift the Afcon cup. I do not even know the reason why Morocco ball balls and players were so interested in taking goalkeepers's towel in the Afcon tournament, but i like the way Senegal second goalkeeper fought them so hard and stopped them from taking Mendy's towel in the Afcon finals.

That towel issue has been getting me thinking, and I even saw on social media where people were having the discussion about the importance of the towel and how the Moroccans side wanted to take it, some say that it was because the Moroccans didn't want Mendy to have something to wipe his face with whenever the need arises, others had different opinions but then, it was a controversy that needs to also be looked into.  But most sincerely I think Moroccans should be taught on how to be sportsmanly, they should under that in the game of football, you lose some, you win some.

[EL MOHA]

That towel issue has been getting me thinking, and I even saw on social media where people were having the discussion about the importance of the towel and how the Moroccans side wanted to take it, some say that it was because the Moroccans didn't want Mendy to have something to wipe his face with whenever the need arises, others had different opinions but then, it was a controversy that needs to also be looked into.  But most sincerely I think Moroccans should be taught on how to be sportsmanly, they should under that in the game of football, you lose some, you win some.

No matter how we try to put it, it was a stupid and shameful act by Morocco ball boys and let’s be sincere if there is any sanction going to the Senegalese team then the Moroccan team should also be punished as well for the shameful act. They were actually taking the Towel on purpose while other people had different ideas build about this saying that they thought it contains some Voodo I am sure they know it doesn’t contain anything and that particular lie is defeated.

That Towel was actually dragged with the goalkeeper with the purpose that the goalkeeper wouldn’t have something to dry his hands with when it’s wet most especially since it was raining and this would lead to the goalkeeper having a slippery hands and technical can result into errors when the ball is shot at them. It was disgraceful seeing other players too from Morocco getting involve. But my question remains didn’t VAR spot this to call the Referee attention to it or they simply over look it yet again

[Nightwatchmare]

I didn't know about the Fair Play Award to Morocco but, at this point, I can't even say I'm surprised, they clearly wanted Morocco to win the competition. It's a pity to see this type of things because it really makes you wonder how far corruption can go. So many wrong things happened in this final, the CAF doesn't come out well, at all.

It's crazy how Morocco would be awarded the fair play award after trying all they could to frustrate the opposition. It was quite embarrassing and shameful to watch some of the Moroccoan players, their ball boys and even an official engage in stupid acts meant to frustrate their opposition. They did it with Nigeria and again, they, without any shame, did it again while playing against Senegal. Giving them the fair play award is plain crazy.
The brazen impunity displayed by Morocco should never be encouraged but unfortunately this fair play award given to them does just that.

I was not surprised when Morocco won the fair play award after all their wrong doings in the Afcon tournament because this is African, where wealthy people can easily buy their way to win what they do not deserve. CAF is supposed to sanction Morocco after Moroccan boy balls, stewards, and players tried to take away Mendy's towel so that Mendy would not wipe his face and gloves so that the same incident would not happen in the next Afcon tournament, but since CAF didn't even talk about the towel issue, CAF and Moroccan football associations have the same agenda in the Afcon tournament.

[IceLincoln]

I didn't know about the Fair Play Award to Morocco but, at this point, I can't even say I'm surprised, they clearly wanted Morocco to win the competition. It's a pity to see this type of things because it really makes you wonder how far corruption can go. So many wrong things happened in this final, the CAF doesn't come out well, at all.

It's crazy how Morocco would be awarded the fair play award after trying all they could to frustrate the opposition. It was quite embarrassing and shameful to watch some of the Moroccoan players, their ball boys and even an official engage in stupid acts meant to frustrate their opposition. They did it with Nigeria and again, they, without any shame, did it again while playing against Senegal. Giving them the fair play award is plain crazy.
The brazen impunity displayed by Morocco should never be encouraged but unfortunately this fair play award given to them does just that.

I was not surprised when Morocco won the fair play award after all their wrong doings in the Afcon tournament because this is African, where wealthy people can easily buy their way to win what they do not deserve. CAF is supposed to sanction Morocco after Moroccan boy balls, stewards, and players tried to take away Mendy's towel so that Mendy would not wipe his face and gloves so that the same incident would not happen in the next Afcon tournament, but since CAF didn't even talk about the towel issue, CAF and Moroccan football associations have the same agenda in the Afcon tournament.

This is why some people are calling them MorroCAF, the Officiating in the tournament was regulated in such a way to favor them, all their bad tackles and Antics all went silently unpunished and CAF and all the tournament host and officials will say they didn’t see it or have no idea how it happened. This is an embarrassment to Africa, the whole drama of the Finals, it’ll last generations, they did everything we do on street football or inter community match in my country.
Even the CAF best player was involved in such disgusting behaviour. I’m just so happy they didn’t finally win it.

[Salahmu]

It was only the infrastructural side of Morocco that was enjoyed in the AFCON, the stadiums and other facilities were alright as well, but the behavior by the Moroccans truly surprised us, they didn't just come to play in the AFCON or hosted the AFCON as the host for the tournament, they had the motive of winning the AFCON using every means they possibly can.

Any sanction Morocco claims to file against Senegal is useless, the tried to stress their opponents mentally in a way it will affect their performance,

I haven't seen all the stadium in Africa but from all the ones we always watch while AFCON is ongoing non has competed Morocco stadium because most of the previous stadium was a semi standard stadium but this Morocco own is international standard for playing, they have everything and the capacity is of no questionable view, a world Cup can actually be played on that stadium for the sake of standard. Sanction on Senegal?, they wouldn't sanction them because of the amicable reconciliation of action from Senegal and they didn't fight each other to determine the rules they had broken.

[Frankolala]

I was not surprised when Morocco won the fair play award after all their wrong doings in the Afcon tournament because this is African, where wealthy people can easily buy their way to win what they do not deserve. CAF is supposed to sanction Morocco after Moroccan boy balls, stewards, and players tried to take away Mendy's towel so that Mendy would not wipe his face and gloves so that the same incident would not happen in the next Afcon tournament, but since CAF didn't even talk about the towel issue, CAF and Moroccan football associations have the same agenda in the Afcon tournament.

It seems that CAF didn't see all of those craps done by Morocco players. I think VAR is only concerned about the game and not about who takes who's towel. However, I'm not surprised that's coming from CAF because I already have it in mind since onset that CAF is corrupt and that will make AFCON look like shit in coming years because whomever, gives CAF the highest bribe will be supported by them.

[Finebone]

It seems that CAF didn't see all of those craps done by Morocco players. I think VAR is only concerned about the game and not about who takes who's towel. However, I'm not surprised that's coming from CAF because I already have it in mind since onset that CAF is corrupt and that will make AFCON look like shit in coming years because whomever, gives CAF the highest bribe will be supported by them.

The moment the referees started pushing so hard by being bais openly just to make sure that Morocco wins the afcon, that's when it became obvious to me that any judgement taken will always sides with the Moroccan national team, because it seems like caf is in their pocket. Look at all the bad treatments given to the Senegalese team, from lack of proper security, bad hotel rooms and wanting them to train in front of the Moroccan national team hotel, so that all their tactics will be seem by the Morocco coaches and players, but they turn a blind eye to that, because corruption is in full flow.
And I was  happy that Senegal took a step that passes a strong message to caf and to fifa that if something like that happens in other part of the world and people are quiet, in Africa we can't stay silent for such actions by caf.

[Fiatless]

Any sanction Morocco claims to file against Senegal is useless, the tried to stress their opponents mentally in a way it will affect their performance, rob with VAR and referee, drag items meant for the keeper, gave their own fans tickets that were suppose for the other side, many other things which they did wrong to mess with the players, it's wrong for them to make such move.

I read on a social media platform about a Moroccan politician who was agitating that CAF should sanction the refree that officiated the finals. He claimed that the match should have been called off after teh Senegalses players left the pitch and Morocco should have been declared the winner. He claimed that coming back to play under such conditions affected the morale of the host team. We would keep on getting agitations and complains until a final decision is made. No matter how it ends, Senegal will definitely be sanctioned. It doesn't matter because they are the champions .

[Callido]

I read on a social media platform about a Moroccan politician who was agitating that CAF should sanction the refree that officiated the finals. He claimed that the match should have been called off after teh Senegalses players left the pitch and Morocco should have been declared the winner. He claimed that coming back to play under such conditions affected the morale of the host team. We would keep on getting agitations and complains until a final decision is made. No matter how it ends, Senegal will definitely be sanctioned. It doesn't matter because they are the champions .

Yes, i heard a news like that, that the trophy should be returned and awarded to Morocco after what transpired that day. The statement is typically one to laugh about, what we know is that the AFCON has ended and we already know our winners. Whatever sanction that will happen doesn't matter, maybe in the next one or affecting their World Cup journey, regardless we Africans are not proud of Morocco and no way they deserve what they ask for.

[Mayor of ogba]

It seems that CAF didn't see all of those craps done by Morocco players. I think VAR is only concerned about the game and not about who takes who's towel. However, I'm not surprised that's coming from CAF because I already have it in mind since onset that CAF is corrupt and that will make AFCON look like shit in coming years because whomever, gives CAF the highest bribe will be supported by them.

For CAF not to break silence on Morocco stealing towels in the African Cup of Nations shows how corrupt CAF is, and CAF will always protect the interests of the country or the team that paid the highest money to be favored in the African Cup of Nations. For us to have a transparent African Cup of Nations, the current CAF president should be changed.

[Rruchi man]

It seems that CAF didn't see all of those craps done by Morocco players. I think VAR is only concerned about the game and not about who takes who's towel. However, I'm not surprised that's coming from CAF because I already have it in mind since onset that CAF is corrupt and that will make AFCON look like shit in coming years because whomever, gives CAF the highest bribe will be supported by them.

For CAF not to break silent on Morocco stealing towels in the African Cup of Nations shows how corrupt CAF is, and CAF will always protect the interests of the country or the team that paid the highest money to be favored in the African Cup of Nations. For us to have a transparent African Cup of Nations, the current CAF president should be changed.

It is quite unfortunate that this looks like the situation. We have always suspected corruption in football, but never expected it to be to this level. It will not end if the present CAF president is removed or steps down, another corrupt official will just take over and continue.

Maybe it will only be possible by a massive overhaul of all the present officials in CAF. But is it going to happen? I don't think so.

[snipie]

It is quite unfortunate that this looks like the situation. We have always suspected corruption in football, but never expected it to be to this level. It will not end if the present CAF president is removed or steps down, another corrupt official will just take over and continue.

Maybe it will only be possible by a massive overhaul of all the present officials in CAF. But is it going to happen? I don't think so.

If FIFA and UEFA contain many corrupt officials, why should we expect to see CAF so clean?
CAF is the worst federation as far as I am aware of. Even when the president changes, you will find that the bureau is the same, at least spiritually. These folks are blind for everything except money, from referees to officials. You ever heard of the iconic game where a referee stopped the game twice before 90 minutes? Did you ever heard about nations pushing their rivals to their limit by booking them the worst hotels and picking them the worst roads to ride through to another city.
For the towel, well, Moroccan believe in black magic and sorcery and they thought that it was used to block them from scoring...

[Mr Reporter]

It seems that CAF didn't see all of those craps done by Morocco players. I think VAR is only concerned about the game and not about who takes who's towel. However, I'm not surprised that's coming from CAF because I already have it in mind since onset that CAF is corrupt and that will make AFCON look like shit in coming years because whomever, gives CAF the highest bribe will be supported by them.

For CAF not to break silent on Morocco stealing towels in the African Cup of Nations shows how corrupt CAF is, and CAF will always protect the interests of the country or the team that paid the highest money to be favored in the African Cup of Nations. For us to have a transparent African Cup of Nations, the current CAF president should be changed.

It is quite unfortunate that this looks like the situation. We have always suspected corruption in football, but never expected it to be to this level. It will not end if the present CAF president is removed or steps down, another corrupt official will just take over and continue.

Maybe it will only be possible by a massive overhaul of all the present officials in CAF. But is it going to happen? I don't think so.

In fact having to hear this got me really ashamed of both the host and the CAF in particular because they caused a lot of problems during the tournament which we all know that the game of football is a game of patience peace, joy,happiness,togetherness, well they say this is what greed can do to a man all in ones….while does the FIFA say that all CAF members are corrupted all in one.

[Richbased]

It seems that CAF didn't see all of those craps done by Morocco players. I think VAR is only concerned about the game and not about who takes who's towel. However, I'm not surprised that's coming from CAF because I already have it in mind since onset that CAF is corrupt and that will make AFCON look like shit in coming years because whomever, gives CAF the highest bribe will be supported by them.

For CAF not to break silent on Morocco stealing towels in the African Cup of Nations shows how corrupt CAF is, and CAF will always protect the interests of the country or the team that paid the highest money to be favored in the African Cup of Nations. For us to have a transparent African Cup of Nations, the current CAF president should be changed.

The AFCON tournament just ended last Sunday, it's not enough time for CAF to review some of the irregularities that happened in the AFCON matches especially the ones that come from Morocco precisely. However, we should give CAF some more time if they will actually make an official statement in what happened in the final match between Morocco and Senegal and if thoroughly reviewed, even the Senegal team will not escape sanction because no matter the poor officiating by referees and match officials, it doesn't warrant players leaving the pitch based on instruction from the coach so the Senegal head coach or the team will likely face a sanction. I don't even think that Morocco team will be sanctioned, maybe the country will bear the brunt since they are the host nation.