Guinea Refutes Claims Over Contesting Morocco’s 1976 AFCON Win

The Guinean Football Federation (FGF) has officially rejected circulating reports asserting that it lodged an appeal with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to dispute the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title won by Morocco in 1976.

This clarification follows widespread claims indicating that Guinea sought to have the 1976 AFCON trophy reassigned to them, referencing an alleged walkout by Morocco during the final match of that tournament.

The rumors surfaced in light of the recent CAF Appeals Board’s ruling that took away Senegal’s 2025 AFCON title and bestowed it upon Morocco.

The CAF’s decision indicated that Senegal had breached Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON regulations after multiple players exited the pitch in protest of a referee’s decision. This ruling led to extensive speculation and misinformation linking Guinea to historical disputes over the title.

In a statement released on Sunday, the FGF labelled the reports as “inaccurate” and without any official basis.

“In recent days, information circulating on various media, especially social networks, has wrongly suggested that Guinea had initiated actions to challenge the outcome of the match between the Syli National and Morocco during this competition,” the statement stated.

“The Guinean Football Federation assures both the national and international communities that it has not commenced any proceedings with the Court of Arbitration for Sport or with CAF concerning the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations,” it further elaborated.

FGF reiterated that the claims are “inaccurate and lacking any official foundation,” urging for responsible journalism and calm in reporting.

Additionally, the federation took the opportunity to clarify the historical context of the game in question.

The match between Guinea and Morocco was held on March 14, 1976, in Addis Ababa, where Guinea initially led with a goal from Souleymane Cherif in the 33rd minute. However, Morocco equalized with a late goal from Ahmed Makrouh, alias “Baba,” in the 86th minute.

The game concluded with a 1-1 draw.

FGF emphasized that understanding the tournament format at that time is essential in grasping the match outcome. Unlike traditional tournaments, there was no single final; instead, a final group stage was used to determine the champion.

“According to the regulations at that time, the competition did not include a classic final,” stated the federation. “The qualified teams competed in a final group, where the standings directly decided the winner.”

Morocco topped that group and was officially declared African champions, with Guinea securing the second position.

By reiterating these facts, the federation effectively counters both elements of the rumor: the supposed Moroccan walkout and any notion of an ongoing legal challenge.

The statement concluded by calling on the media and observers to focus on verified facts and refrain from disseminating misinformation that could incite confusion.

“The federation reaffirms its dedication to respecting historical facts and sporting regulations,” it stated, adding that it remains committed to “fair play, mutual respect, and the unity of African football.”