Benatia criticises handling of Morocco’s disputed AFCON final victory

Mehdi Benatia has described the fallout from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal as “a real mess”, saying any Moroccan title would not feel the same because of the circumstances surrounding the match.

The former Olympique de Marseille sporting director was speaking to French broadcaster Canal+, as the dispute awaits a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The final, played in January 2026, ended with Senegal winning 1-0 after extra time. However, in March, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Committee ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match and awarded Morocco a victory.

Benatia said he did not know which body would ultimately settle the case, but criticised the way the incident had been handled during the match and afterwards.

The controversy began in the closing stages of normal time, when the referee awarded Morocco a penalty. Senegal’s players protested the decision, with several leaving the pitch before returning to complete the game.

CAF later treated the walk-off as a breach of the competition regulations. That decision led to the Appeals Committee overturning the result and awarding Morocco the title on a formal basis.

Senegal, meanwhile, has maintained that it remains entitled to the trophy because it won the match on the pitch. The disagreement has consequently moved into the legal process.

Benatia argued that the match officials and the appointed match delegate should have taken the appropriate action at the time. He also questioned why the players’ return to the field had not been given greater consideration when the case was reviewed.

“What was the point of turning this into a legal crisis after the match and changing the result?” he asked, according to the comments reported from his interview.

The former Morocco international, who won 66 caps for his country, said he was saddened by the prospect of Morocco celebrating a title in such circumstances.

He added that even if the decision confirming Morocco as champions becomes final, the success would not have the same meaning as a title settled naturally on the field.

Benatia described the situation as “extremely sad for Moroccan football” and said he was frustrated by the recurrence of similar disputes in African competitions. He also said friends who had played in Africa had spoken positively to him about Morocco, making the image created by the final particularly troubling.

The match itself had taken a dramatic turn when Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed the penalty awarded in stoppage time at the end of the second half. Play had been delayed for several minutes during the Senegalese protest and the players’ departure from the pitch.

After the game resumed, Senegal recovered its composure and Pape Gueye scored the only goal in extra time to give the Teranga Lions victory according to the result recorded on the night.

The CAS is expected to issue its ruling at the end of November. Its decision will determine whether CAF’s Appeals Committee acted lawfully and who will officially be recognised as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations champions.