Fresh controversy has hit African football after a former CAF official alleged that Morocco once staged a walkout during a historic Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
Raymond Hack, ex-president of the CAF Disciplinary Board, claimed the Morocco national football team briefly walked off the pitch during the decisive match of the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament they ultimately won.
Hack made the remarks in an interview with Robert Marawa while reacting to CAF’s explosive ruling on the 2025 AFCON final.
2025 AFCON ruling sparks backlash
The CAF Appeals Board recently stripped Senegal national football team of the 2025 AFCON title, handing victory to Morocco.
CAF said Senegal breached tournament rules after several players walked off the pitch in protest of a referee’s decision. The ruling overturned an earlier decision that had dismissed Morocco’s complaint.
The verdict has triggered widespread debate, with Senegal challenging the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Hack cites 1976 ‘precedent’
According to Hack, a similar incident occurred nearly five decades ago.
“There are precedents in this regard. Go back to 1976 AFCON when Guinea played Morocco, and Morocco walked off the pitch. Then they came back. The game was not abandoned,” he said.
However, there is no independent confirmation of this claim.
What happened in 1976?
The 1976 AFCON used a round-robin final group instead of a single final match.
Four teams, Morocco national football team, Nigeria national football team, Egypt national football team and Guinea national football team competed for the title.
Going into the final match, Guinea needed a win, while Morocco only required a draw. Morocco secured a 1-1 result thanks to a late goal from Ahmed Makrouh, sealing their first AFCON title.
Pressure mounts
The Senegalese FA has lodged an urgent appeal, while the government has called for an independent investigation into alleged corruption within Confederation of African Football.
As tensions rise, Hack’s claim verified or not has added fuel to an already heated dispute that could reshape the tournament’s legacy.
