The rumors started after Senegal was allegedly denied the 2025 AFCON title by CAF’s Appeals Board and Morocco was given it instead.
After multiple players left the field to protest a referee’s rule, the ruling purportedly found Senegal in violation of Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations. This led to reports in some quarters tying Guinea to previous competitions.
The FGF responded by calling the reports “inaccurate” and “without official basis” in a statement released on Sunday.
The statement stated, “In recent days, information circulating on various media, particularly social networks, has falsely suggested that Guinea had taken steps to contest the result of the match between the Syli National and Morocco during this competition.”
“In a spirit of accountability and reconciliation, the Guinean Football Federation wishes to clarify that this information is inaccurate and has no official basis,” the statement continued.
The federation also gave background information on the AFCON final round of 1976.
Nyirenda Chayu, a Zambian referee, officiated the Guinea-Morocco match on March 14, 1976, in Addis Ababa.
Chérif Souleymane gave Guinea the lead in the 33rd minute, but Ahmed Makrouh, also known as “Baba,” of Morocco equalized in the 86th.
The existing structure was not the same as the tournament format.
Eight teams, divided into two groups of four, took part.
Each group’s top two teams went to a round-robin final round, where the team with the most points was proclaimed the winner.
Guinea, Egypt, Morocco, and Nigeria advanced to the last round.
Only Guinea and Morocco were still in the running for the championship at the end of the match.
Morocco only needed a draw to win the trophy, but Guinea needed to win. Morocco won its first AFCON title after Makrouh’s late equalizer clinched a 1-1 tie.
According to NSM, CAF has formally amended its records to acknowledge Morocco as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations winners, with Senegal classified as runners-up.
The Senegalese Football Federation has confirmed that it has lodged an urgent appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the decision of the CAF Appeals Board.
