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Senegal may still hold the Africa Cup of Nations trophy and has launched a legal challenge over the decision to strip them of it, but for new champions Morocco, the matter is settled.
The Atlas Lions lost 1-0 in the January final, but last week the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory after several Senegal players left the pitch in protest at a penalty decision.
Morocco played their first match since the final on Friday, drawing 1-1 with Ecuador in a friendly in Madrid. The game also marked the debut of new coach Mohamed Ouahbi, just three months ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
After reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 2022, expectations for Morocco are high, but the team is focused on the future rather than the controversy.
“We’re focussed 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 Moroccan fans at the match, dressed in their national flag and tooting vuvuzelas, voiced their support for the official decision.
“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, Morocco had won the Africa Cup of Nations only once, in 1976.
“The rules are the rules… they are so clear, you go outside the pitch without any reason, you lose 3-0,”said another fan, Taha El Hadiguy, 22.
“It’s very different to winning on the night of the final, to win two months later, but a win is a win. We have one more star on our shirt.”
The Moroccan media and players are now more focused on the upcoming World Cup and Ouahbi’s tactical approach than on Senegal’s protest.
Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece said they were satisfied with a draw against the “African champions”.
Morocco remains technically unbeaten in 25 matches despite the dramatic 1-0 loss in Rabat against Senegal in the Afcon final.
They struggled with precision in attack against Ecuador, but Ouahbi praised his team’s overall quality.
“I don’t talk in terms of weaknesses. They’re not weaknesses. We are a top-level team — the Ecuadorian coach reminded us of that,” Ouhabi told reporters.
“If you are a top-level team, ranked eighth in the world and World Cup semi-finalists, you don’t have weaknesses.
“You only have strengths, and then any qualities we’re missing, areas where we’re not performing, we have to make up for collectively.”
Morocco will open their World Cup campaign against five-time winners Brazil on June 13 in one of the tournament’s most intriguing group-stage matches.
While Moroccan lawyers may still have to defend their African champion status against Senegal’s legal case, Ouahbi and his players are focused on the summer, when they aim to win another trophy, this time on the pitch.
