AFCON 2025: Bounou Says Morocco’s Title The Least We Deserve’
CAF’s shock decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations crown and award it to Morocco has drawn the first public reaction from a Moroccan player.
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, speaking after helping Al-Hilal reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals, described the ruling as a moment of vindication for the Atlas Lions.
‘Even if the decision came late, the feeling of happiness is indescribable. Being Moroccan and playing for the national team, I have lived through these difficult moments, and it’s the least we deserve,’ Bounou told Thmanyahsports.
The ruling, which overturned the result of the AFCON final months after it was played, remains highly divisive across Africa.
While Bounou’s words reflect the joy inside Morocco’s camp, the broader reaction has been one of anger and disbelief. As L’Équipe noted, Morocco and CAF now appear ‘alone against all,’ with many nations, especially Senegal, rejecting the legitimacy of the decision.
The controversy is expected to continue, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport likely to weigh in on the matter in the coming months. Until then, CAF faces mounting criticism and a crisis of confidence among African football fans.
