AFCON Row Deepens: Guinea Revives 1976 Claim After Morocco-Senegal Ruling - Report

Last Updated:March 20, 2026, 15:44 IST

CAF’s decision to award Morocco the AFCON title after Senegal’s walkout has triggered fresh controversy, with Guinea now seeking a review of the 1976 final.

Oh, how quickly the tables can turn.

What began as a controversial call by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in the AFCON final has now snowballed into a wider debate: one that stretches all the way back to 1976.

After stripping Senegal of their title and awarding Morocco the 2026 AFCON crown following a walkout, CAF now finds itself under fresh pressure — this time from Guinea.

AFCON Final Chaos Sparks Controversy

The latest storm traces back to the January 18 final in Rabat. Senegal had edged ahead 1-0 and looked set to lift the trophy before late drama flipped the script.

Morocco were awarded a contentious penalty, prompting Senegal to walk off the pitch in protest for around 14 minutes before eventually returning to complete the match.

Initially, CAF’s Disciplinary Board dismissed Morocco’s protest. But the Appeal Board later overturned that decision, ruling that Senegal had violated tournament rules by staging a walkoff.

The result? Senegal were stripped of the title, and Morocco were handed a 3-0 win, and the trophy.

The decision has since split opinion, with many questioning CAF’s strict interpretation of the rulebook.

Guinea’s Call For Justice

Now, Guinea have entered the conversation.

According to multiple reports, it is believed that the Guinea Football Federation has formally urged CAF to revisit the 1976 AFCON outcome, arguing that similar disciplinary standards should apply.

Their case hinges on a strikingly similar moment from that tournament.

In the decisive clash of the round-robin format, Morocco needed just a draw, while Guinea required a win. Guinea took the lead through Chérif Souleymane in the 33rd minute.

However, Moroccan players briefly walked off in protest over a refereeing decision before returning to resume play.

Ahmed Makrouh equalised late in the game, sealing a 1-1 draw — enough for Morocco to clinch the title with five points, while Guinea finished second.

Guinea now argue that, based on CAF’s recent ruling, the incident warrants retrospective action.

A Legal Grey Area

There’s a catch, though.

Sports legal experts point out that CAF regulations — particularly Article 84, which governs forfeits — were not in force back in 1976 and are rarely applied retroactively.

CAF, for now, has remained silent.

News sports football AFCON Row Deepens: Guinea Revives 1976 Claim After Morocco-Senegal Ruling - Report

Read More