‘You Cannot Leave the Pitch Like That’: Achraf Hakimi Defends Morocco’s Controversial 2025 AFCON Title

The victory is written in the record books, but the debate is far from over. For Achraf Hakimi, the captain of the Morocco national team, the title is a matter of sporting merit and discipline, regardless of the administrative chaos that followed the final whistle of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Speaking to Movistar+ following Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-0 victory over Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on April 8, 2026, Hakimi addressed the ongoing firestorm surrounding Morocco’s “sur tapis vert” (administrative) victory. The Moroccan full-back didn’t mince words regarding the behavior of the Senegalese squad during the final, insisting that the integrity of the game demands a certain standard of conduct that was not met.

For a global audience, the phrase “sur tapis vert” refers to a victory awarded by a governing body rather than on the field of play. In this instance, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) stripped Senegal of the title and awarded it to Morocco, turning a sporting contest into a legal battle that has now reached the highest levels of sports arbitration.

The Chaos of the 2025 Final: A Timeline of Tension

To understand Hakimi’s frustration, one must look at the volatile sequence of events during the 2025 AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal. The match reached a boiling point in the final minutes of extra time when the referee awarded a penalty to Morocco.

The decision sparked immediate and intense outrage from the Senegalese side. In an unprecedented move, the Senegalese team decided to leave the field of play for several minutes, effectively bringing the championship match to a grinding halt. This walk-off created a vacuum of authority on the pitch and sparked immediate calls for the team to forfeit the match.

While the Senegalese players eventually returned to the field and successfully saved the penalty—ultimately winning the match on the pitch during extra time—the damage to the tournament’s discipline had already been done. The act of abandoning the field, even temporarily, became the focal point for CAF’s disciplinary committee.

Following the match, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation filed a formal complaint and appeal. CAF declared the appeal admissible and upheld it, ruling that Senegal’s behavior warranted the revocation of their title. The trophy was awarded to Morocco based on the result of the administrative ruling.

Hakimi’s Stance: Discipline vs. Result

For Achraf Hakimi, the technical result of the match is secondary to the breach of professional conduct. During his post-match interview, Hakimi emphasized that leaving the pitch is an unacceptable reaction in professional football.

“You cannot leave the field like that,” Hakimi suggested, framing the issue as one of respect for the game and the opponent. He defended the Atlas Lions’ performance throughout the tournament, asserting that Morocco showed great quality on the pitch and generally respected the rules of the game. From his perspective, the administrative award is not a “gift,” but a consequence of Senegal’s own actions.

Hakimi insists that, in sporting terms, Morocco deserved the results they achieved throughout the competition. By framing the victory as a matter of discipline, he is arguing that the spirit of the game was violated by the walk-off, making the CAF ruling a necessary correction rather than an unfair penalty.

The ‘Towel Incident’ and the Burden of Captaincy

The 2025 AFCON was not without its blemishes for the Moroccan camp. During the same interview, Hakimi addressed a specific “towel incident” that had drawn widespread criticism across the African continent. The episode, which sparked significant social media backlash, appeared to clash with the image of a disciplined professional.

Showing a level of maturity expected of a national team captain, Hakimi did not shy away from his responsibilities. He issued a public apology for the episode, describing it as “regrettable.”

“This behavior does not reflect the image I want to portray as a professional and a representative of African football,” Hakimi acknowledged. This admission of fault serves as a counterweight to his criticism of Senegal, suggesting that while he demands discipline from opponents, he is equally willing to hold himself accountable for his own lapses in judgment.

The Final Word: The Role of the CAS

Despite the CAF ruling and the celebrations in Morocco, the controversy remains legally unresolved. The case has been elevated to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the ultimate authority in global sports disputes.

Hakimi expressed a blend of hope and caution regarding the upcoming ruling. He stressed the importance of waiting for the verdict from the relevant authorities, noting that the resolution must be handled fairly to ensure the long-term health of African football. For Hakimi, a definitive and just decision from the CAS is the only way to provide true closure to a controversy that has lingered for months.

The stakes for the CAS ruling are high. A decision to uphold CAF’s ruling would solidify Morocco’s place in history as the 2025 champions. A reversal would return the title to Senegal, potentially reigniting the debate over whether a temporary walk-off justifies the loss of a continental championship.

Context: Hakimi’s Current Form and Influence

The timing of these comments coincides with a period of high performance for Hakimi at the club level. His decisive role in Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-0 win over Liverpool highlights why he is regarded as one of the premier right-backs in world football. His ability to influence high-stakes matches—whether in the Champions League or the AFCON—makes his voice one of the most influential in African sports.

As the captain of the Morocco national team, Hakimi is no longer just a player; he is the face of a golden generation of Moroccan footballers. His leadership during this administrative crisis reflects the tension of a team that feels it has earned its success but must now defend that success in a courtroom rather than on the grass.

The football world now looks toward the Court of Arbitration for Sport for a final verdict. Until that ruling is delivered, the 2025 AFCON title remains one of the most debated trophies in the history of the competition.

What do you think? Should a temporary walk-off result in the loss of a championship title, or is an administrative victory “sur tapis vert” an unfair outcome? Let us know in the comments.