The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially dismissed a formal protest from the Algerian Football Federation regarding the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The decision, announced on March 18, 2026, confirms Morocco's 2-1 victory over Algeria in the tournament final held in Rabat last July.
Algeria's protest centered on a disputed penalty awarded to Morocco in the 78th minute, which was converted by Achraf Hakimi for the winning goal. The Algerian federation alleged a refereeing error. After a review, CAF's disciplinary board stated the on-field decision fell within the referee's discretion and found no grounds to overturn the match result.
Moroccan goalkeeper and captain Yassine 'Bono' Bounou reacted to the verdict in a statement to the press. "We always had faith in the justice of sport," Bounou said. "This confirmation allows us to fully celebrate this historic achievement for our nation, which was earned with immense effort and respect for our opponents."
The ruling ends a months-long legal challenge and solidifies Morocco's status as the 2025 African champion, their third continental title. The Moroccan Football Federation welcomed the decision, calling it a "validation of a hard-fought and fair victory."
