Mustapha Hadji backs Morocco in Africa Cup dispute and says World Cup final belongs in Africa

Mustapha Hadji says Morocco should be awarded the Africa Cup of Nations after Senegal players left the pitch during the final, arguing that football’s laws were not applied correctly.

The former Morocco forward said the case should be resolved according to FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF) regulations, while warning that a failure to recognise the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision would damage the image of African football.

“Football is governed by laws,” Hadji told Kooora. “If players leave the field, there must be a punishment. Morocco did not steal the trophy – we won it according to the laws and what happened on the pitch.”

Hadji said Senegal would have deserved the title if Morocco’s players had been the ones to leave the field. He criticised the referee for allowing the match to continue and questioned why the video assistant referee and CAF officials did not intervene.

He claimed that, under FIFA and CAF regulations, players who leave the pitch for more than 10 or 15 minutes should be punished and booked. Senegal, he added, knew what had happened, even though they won the match on the field, and understood that the referee’s decision was intended to prevent further problems.

“I hope the final ruling applies to everyone, whoever it favours,” he said. “But I hope it is in Morocco’s favour. It is difficult to take this case further because that would harm the future of the game in Africa. The world must know that African football is governed by laws.”

Morocco should host 2030 final

Hadji also said the 2030 World Cup final should be played in Morocco, either in Casablanca or Rabat, because the country had the necessary facilities.

He wants the World Cup final to return to Africa after South Africa staged the tournament in 2010, adding that “the time has come to raise the African flag”. Hadji accused those calling for the final to be moved away from Africa of racism, noting that the match had already been held several times in Europe and the United States.

The former Aston Villa and Deportivo La Coruna player also discussed Lamine Yamal, who chose to represent Spain rather than Morocco. Hadji said Moroccans still love and support the Barcelona forward and consider him Moroccan by heritage.

Yamal was young and under pressure when he made his decision, Hadji said, while the chance to play for Spain’s senior side at an early age would have been difficult to refuse. He added that 40 million Moroccans now support Yamal while he plays for Spain.

Hadji, who won the African Player of the Year award in 1998 and earned 58 caps between 1994 and 2002, believes Morocco’s football development since 2012 has encouraged dual-nationality players in European leagues to choose the national team.

Hadji compares Regragui and Wahbi

He said Morocco’s 2026 team faced a more difficult challenge than the side that reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2022 because opponents were now fully aware of the Atlas Lions’ qualities.

Hadji rejected the idea that one generation was necessarily stronger, saying Morocco had not been widely respected in 2022 but was feared in 2026 because of its defensive and attacking strength. Young players such as 18-year-old Ayoub Bouaddi could carry the team towards 2030, supported by experienced figures including Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui and Brahim Diaz.

Hadji praised Mohamed Wahbi as an outstanding tactical coach, saying he could change Morocco’s approach three times in one match. By contrast, Walid Regragui largely maintained the same style throughout the 2022 tournament, with players expected to attack on the break after winning possession.

France, Spain and England were identified as Morocco’s most difficult opponents. Hadji said Brazil no longer had the quality of the late 1990s and early 2000s, when they possessed players such as Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Rivaldo, and could now be beaten by Morocco.

He added that Argentina had lost 90% of its strength since Lionel Messi’s retirement, because the former captain provided goals and assists as well as creating opportunities for others.

Hadji described centre-back as Morocco’s main weakness, with only Issa Diop and Nayef Aguerd at the required level and insufficient depth behind them. He hopes the team can eventually develop six high-quality defenders.

In attack, he said Morocco had no crisis, pointing to young players such as Yasser Zabiri, who plays in Spain. Ismail Saibari was his preferred option to lead the line, although the PSV player is not a traditional striker and can operate as a number nine, number 10 or on either wing.

Hadji said Wahbi’s approach was influenced by Barcelona and could include using a false nine, as Pep Guardiola had done and Hansi Flick does now. He praised Soufiane Rahimi as a wholehearted “joker” who gives 200% even when playing for only two minutes, but said it would be difficult for him to start ahead of Saibari.

Hadji called Regragui the best coach Morocco had appointed, crediting him with changing the team’s image and allowing Moroccans to dream of winning the World Cup. He said Regragui’s decision to step away after about four years increased the pressure on Wahbi, who took over only months before the 2026 World Cup.

“I hope Regragui returns to coach Morocco in the future,” Hadji added.