Morocco’s new head coach Mohamed Ouahbi congratulated his country on March 19, 2026. He described the Confederation of African Football’s decision as “well-deserved.” CAF stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded it to Morocco. The ruling followed Senegal’s actions in the final.
Ouahbi spoke during the presentation of his first squad list. He named Morocco’s upcoming friendly matches against Ecuador and Paraguay. “First of all, I would like to congratulate all Moroccans, the staff, the players and the federation on the good news we got two days ago, which is well-deserved,” Ouahbi stated.
The 49-year-old coach replaced Walid Regragui earlier in March 2026. Regragui resigned after Morocco failed to win the tournament on home soil.
CAF overturned the final result on March 17, 2026. The body cited violations of competition regulations by Senegal. Morocco appealed the original outcome. The decision granted Morocco its first continental title since 1976.
It denied Senegal a second title in recent editions. Regragui led Morocco to the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup but faced criticism after the AFCON loss.
Ouahbi added that the decision “pleases everyone.” However, he emphasized the need to look forward. The coach prioritized team improvement ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Morocco will compete in the tournament as African champions under the new ruling. Ouahbi previously coached the under-23 side and guided youth teams to success. He took charge shortly after Regragui’s departure on March 5, 2026.
The announcement sparked celebrations in Morocco. Fans expressed joy over the title recognition. Meanwhile, Senegal planned to appeal the CAF verdict.
