This Sunday, during the Canal Football Club, Walid Regragui, the former coach of Morocco, discussed the events surrounding the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final that took place in January. Regragui, who is now a consultant for CANAL+, expressed his concerns about the implications of the match on African football, stating that the real loser in this situation is the sport itself.
Regragui made his debut appearance on Canal Football Club, reflecting on the controversial AFCON 2025 final between Morocco's Atlas Lions and Senegal. The match was marred by a disputed penalty awarded to Morocco, which led to Senegalese players leaving the field for a quarter of an hour. Despite resuming play and ultimately winning the cup, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) later, on March 17, reversed the match's outcome in favor of Morocco, declaring Senegal to forfeit.
Regragui expressed his disappointment regarding the delayed decision from the CAF, stating, "For now, CAF has awarded us the title, and now there's the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS). We will accept the TAS decision regardless of which way it goes. What’s unfortunate is that this decision comes too late, and it’s disheartening that the matter was handled administratively. Everyone wants to stand on the podium and lift the trophy in front of their supporters, but that didn’t happen due to an extraordinary incident that has never been witnessed in a continental or global final. It spoiled the celebration.”
He elaborated on the chaotic events that unfolded during the match, suggesting that had the regulations been properly enforced, the outcome may have been different. "Some players left the field and, if the rules had been applied, they would have received a second yellow card. Even if they resumed play, they would’ve had to continue with nine players," he argued, also reflecting on Brahim Díaz’s missed penalty after the Senegalese team returned to the pitch, describing it as a botched Panenka attempt.
Regragui posed a thought-provoking question about the impact of the fifteen-minute delay on Díaz’s penalty performance. He referenced Kylian Mbappé’s penalty miss against Morocco in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals, where he too felt disadvantaged due to a brief stoppage, highlighting the mental strain such interruptions can impose on players. For Regragui, the match was fundamentally altered by the initial decision, and he remarked on the unprecedented nature of the situation, noting that someone even posted on Snapchat during the intermission, stating, "We left the field." He concluded that everyone involved is now a loser in this scenario.
Regragui further lamented the negative image this match has cast on African football, asserting, "The biggest loser today is African football. We had a magnificent final, showcasing the best two teams in Africa over the past 5-6 years. We could have celebrated and demonstrated that African football has reached new heights, with stadiums that meet exceptional European standards." He continued to emphasize that anyone watching this continental final would only see the negative aspects that African football has been criticized for. He expressed disappointment towards the Senegalese coach at the time, Pape Thiaw, for not presenting a more favorable image, stating, "After winning or losing, ultimately, a decision was made that tarnished African football."
As reported by canalplus.com.
