Guinea has asked CAF to review the 1976 AFCON title, citing Morocco’s walkout and recent sanctions against Senegal.
The Guinea Football Federation has called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to review the outcome of the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), citing a walkout by Morocco during a decisive match.
The request follows CAF’s recent decision to overturn the 2025 AFCON result involving Senegal, where the team was stripped of its title after a walkout despite winning on the pitch, with Morocco subsequently declared champions.
Guinea argues that similar disciplinary standards should be applied to past tournaments.
1976 AFCON Controversy
The federation referenced the final round-robin match between Morocco and Guinea in 1976.
At the time, Morocco needed a draw to win the tournament, while Guinea required a victory.
Guinea took the lead through Chérif Souleymane before Moroccan players reportedly walked off the pitch in protest over a refereeing decision, only to return later and resume play.
Ahmed Makrouh equalised late in the game, ending the match 1–1 and securing the title for Morocco.
Call For Retroactive Action
Guinea insists that the incident should be reassessed using principles applied in the 2025 ruling, arguing that any team that leaves the field during play should face sanctions.
“Give us back our 1976 AFCON trophy,” the federation stated.
Legal and Regulatory Hurdles
However, sports legal analysts note that current CAF regulations, including Article 84, were not in effect in 1976 and are rarely applied retroactively.
Awaiting CAF Response
CAF has yet to officially respond to the request, but observers say the appeal could test the organisation’s willingness to revisit historical decisions.
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