Morocco holds back AFCON celebrations despite Senegal’s decision to defy CAF ruling

The Morocco national football team continues to fine-tune its preparations this March, focusing on a series of friendly matches ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Within the camp, attention remains firmly on sharpening both tactical and physical readiness, as the technical team works to build cohesion and maintain a competitive edge ahead of upcoming international assignments.

However, off the pitch, the situation surrounding the disputed Africa Cup of Nations title continues to cast a shadow. According to RMC Sport, Morocco has chosen a measured approach, opting against any celebratory gestures during their upcoming friendly clash with Paraguay national football team.

This stance comes in contrast to Senegal national football team, which recently celebrated the AFCON trophy it currently holds during a friendly encounter against Peru national football team at the Stade de France.

Morocco’s match against Paraguay is scheduled to take place at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, where nearly 38,000 spectators are expected. Despite the large crowd, the occasion will remain devoid of any fanfare linked to the contentious AFCON outcome.

The controversy stems from dramatic scenes during the final, when Senegal’s players walked off the pitch for over ten minutes in protest of a refereeing decision concerning a penalty. The incident sparked widespread debate and led to an official appeal by the Moroccan authorities.

In a landmark ruling, the Appeals Committee of the Confederation of African Football upheld Morocco’s appeal, determining that Senegal’s actions violated Articles 82 and 84 of the competition’s regulations. The decision effectively classified the act as a withdrawal from the match.

Despite this ruling, Senegal proceeded to celebrate the title publicly, further intensifying the dispute. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation is now awaiting a final verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport to officially determine the rightful winner of the 2025 AFCON.

Amid the ongoing uncertainty, Morocco remains focused on its footballing objectives, with head coach Mohamed Wahbi set to skip the pre-match press conference as preparations continue behind closed doors.