Moroccan national football team defender Achraf Hakimi has announced his withdrawal from the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 title, despite the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Idman.Biz reports that the football player stated that he made this decision on the advice of his mother. He also called on his teammates to take the same step.
"My mother told me to give up the cup. I am officially giving up and I hope my teammates will take the same step. We had a chance to win, but we wasted it. That's football, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I respect CAF's decision, but I don't accept the cup. I am not the winner of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025. I congratulate Senegal again!" Hakimi said in a statement.
It should be reminded that CAF had previously granted the appeal of the Moroccan national team. After a penalty was awarded in the 90+8th minute of the final match due to Brahim Diaz's fall, the Senegalese national team left the field. For this reason, Senegal was given a technical defeat with a score of 0:3 and Morocco was declared the champion.