Walid Regragui, the former head coach of the Morocco national team, has broken his silence on the controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final loss to Senegal. In the "Magharib" podcast by media outlet Atheer, he claimed the continental title and singled out Pape Thiaw, the former president of the Senegalese Football Federation, for his role in the Rabat incidents. This exclusive interview comes as the Lions of Teranga sit 3rd in their 2026 FIFA World Cup group with 3 points from three games.
The final ended with a 1-0 Senegalese victory at Stade Moulay Abdellah, but a penalty awarded to Morocco in the dying moments triggered a series of chaotic events. According to Regragui, Pape Thiaw allegedly incited the Senegalese players to leave the pitch in protest. The players left the field for fifteen minutes, causing a complete stoppage of the match. This was followed by clashes between Senegalese supporters and Moroccan stadium staff, with some fans attempting to invade the pitch.
Two months after the match, the CAF Appeal Jury announced a stunning decision: Senegal was stripped of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, and Morocco was declared champion. The Senegalese federation immediately appealed the sanction to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). A final ruling is expected by the end of the year. Regragui believes the CAF sanction was necessary to prevent a recurrence of such acts. He recalled that FIFA had already imposed sanctions on Senegal earlier in the year, referencing events on January 18.
The former Moroccan manager was unequivocal. "What the Senegal coach did is not done in football," he stated. He added, "For me, as a coach, we did everything to win the title. For me, I am African champion, whether people like it or not." Regragui drew a parallel between the behavior seen at AFCON and his own conduct after the 2026 World Cup round-of-16 elimination against Belgium. That match, lost 3-2 after a penalty in the final moments of extra time, did not see any similar incidents from his staff.
The current context for the Lions of Teranga is marked by that recent defeat to the Red Devils on July 1, 2026. This loss is part of a patchy recent run of form, with two wins and three losses in their last five matches (LLWWL). The team has conceded eight goals this season while scoring six, for a +2 goal difference. They trail group leaders France by six points in the title race. Fans can track the precise standings on our standings page.
This historical controversy comes at a time when the national team must focus on the future. The CAS appeal remains a looming issue, but the squad must move on to its current objectives. The squad composition and individual statistics are available in our squad and stats sections. The latest performance, a 3-2 defeat to Belgium, shows a team capable of scoring but also vulnerable defensively late in games. The next challenge for the Lions will be to break this run of two consecutive losses.
