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| Morocco’s AFCON history includes the 1976 triumph and a controversial 2025 title currently facing a CAS appeal. |
How Many Times Has Morocco Won AFCON? The Complete, Current Answer
Morocco has won the Africa Cup of Nations twice, officially — 1976 and 2025. But the 2025 title is genuinely contested: Morocco lost that final on the pitch, and only holds the trophy today because of a disputed forfeiture ruling against Senegal that's currently under appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
If you've seen older articles (including earlier versions of this one) stating Morocco has won only once, that reflects the situation as it stood before January 18, 2026 — this page has been updated to reflect everything that's happened since.
Morocco's First Title: 1976
Morocco's breakthrough AFCON title came at the 1976 tournament, hosted in Ethiopia. That edition used a final round-robin group format rather than a single knockout final, and Morocco topped the group table to claim the championship — becoming only the second North African nation to win the title, following Tunisia's 1965 triumph. It remained Morocco's only AFCON crown for exactly 49 years, despite reaching the final on other occasions during that stretch.
2025: A Historic Home Tournament — With a Twist
Morocco hosted AFCON 2025, and their run through the tournament as hosts was genuinely dominant on the pitch:
- - Reached their first semi-final in 22 years
- - Beat Nigeria's Super Eagles 4-2 on penalties in the semi-final (Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was the hero, following a goalless 120 minutes)
- - Advanced to face Senegal in the January 18, 2026 final
What Happened in the Final
Morocco actually lost the final 1-0 to Senegal on the pitch, following a chaotic match where Senegal's players briefly walked off in protest of a penalty decision before returning to win in extra time.
How Morocco Ended Up With the Title Anyway
Morocco appealed to CAF, arguing Senegal's players had forfeited the match by leaving the pitch. The CAF Appeal Board agreed, overturning the 1-0 scoreline to a 3-0 default win for Morocco on March 17, 2026 — making them AFCON champions on home soil, 50 years after their only previous title, but through a boardroom ruling rather than a goal on the pitch.
The Title Is Still Being Contested
This is the part most casual coverage of Morocco's "second title" leaves out entirely: Senegal has formally appealed the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing the forfeiture decision had no legal basis and that only an on-field referee — not a post-match panel — can rule a forfeit. CAS has scheduled a hearing for October 8, 2026, with no verdict date yet set; such rulings typically take months after the hearing itself.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has said he will respect whatever CAS ultimately decides.
What this means practically: Morocco's second AFCON title is currently theirs, but not permanently secured. If CAS rules in Senegal's favour after the October hearing, Morocco's official title count would revert to one (1976 only).
Morocco's Full AFCON Final Appearances
Beyond their two credited titles, Morocco has reached the AFCON final on other occasions across their tournament history, making 2025 their most recent final appearance regardless of how the CAS appeal is ultimately resolved.
Summary Table
Here is the text copied from the three images:
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First AFCON title | 1976 (Ethiopia, round-robin format) |
| Most recent AFCON final | 2025 (as hosts) |
| 2025 final result on the pitch | Lost 1-0 to Senegal |
| 2025 official result (after CAF ruling) | Won 3-0 by forfeit |
| Current official title count | 2 (1976 & 2025) |
| Status of 2025 title | Disputed — under CAS appeal, hearing October 8, 2026 |
Has Senegal Won AFCON? The Full, Complicated Answer
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Morocco's AFCON history now has two very different chapters: a clean, undisputed title win in 1976, and a controversial, currently-contested second title in 2025 that they lost on the pitch but were awarded through a forfeiture ruling. Until the Court of Arbitration for Sport rules on Senegal's appeal, expected sometime after the October 8, 2026 hearing, Morocco's status as a two-time champion remains provisional rather than settled.
FAQ
How many times has Morocco won AFCON?
Officially twice — 1976 and 2025. However, the 2025 title is under appeal, and Morocco actually lost that final on the pitch before being awarded the trophy through a disputed forfeiture ruling.
Did Morocco really win the 2025 AFCON final?
No, not on the pitch — they lost 1-0 to Senegal. They were awarded the title after CAF ruled Senegal had forfeited the match by briefly leaving the pitch in protest.
Could Morocco lose the 2025 title?
Yes, if the Court of Arbitration for Sport rules in Senegal's favour following the October 8, 2026 hearing, Morocco's official title count would revert to one.
When was Morocco's first AFCON title?
1976, hosted in Ethiopia, using a round-robin format rather than a single final match.
Did Morocco beat Nigeria at AFCON 2025?
Yes, in the semi-final, winning 4-2 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes.
- Confederation of African Football (CAF)
- Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
