Morocco, who recently hosted the men’s AFCON, endured a painful defeat in the final against Senegal under controversial circumstances. The Atlas Lions were moments away from lifting the trophy before a late penalty decision swung the momentum of the match. Real Madrid midfielder Brahim Díaz failed to convert from the spot, producing a poorly executed Panenka, before Senegal capitalised in extra time. Pape Gueye’s powerful strike past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou sealed the title for the Teranga Lions.
The aftermath of that final proved just as dramatic. Both Morocco and Senegal were sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over incidents that occurred during and after the match. In Morocco, the penalties sparked widespread anger, with tensions spilling into the post-match environment involving players, officials, fans, and sections of the media.
Renowned sports broadcaster Wale Agbede believes Morocco’s reaction since the final points to a deep sense of grievance.
“Definitely, they feel hard done by,” Agbede said while analysing the situation. “You could see it in the behaviour of Moroccan journalists at the end of the final, the way the Senegalese coach and even his daughter were treated in the press room. The reactions from the players and fans also showed a feeling that something was taken away from them.”
However, Agbede maintained that Morocco had their destiny in their own hands. “They had the chance to win that game. If Brahim Díaz scores that penalty, they are champions. It’s nobody’s fault they didn’t take that opportunity.”
Against this backdrop, questions have been raised over whether lingering resentment has influenced Morocco’s reported decision to withdraw from hosting the 2026 WAFCON. Agbede did not mince words in his assessment.
“I think they are being unnecessarily arrogant,” he said. “To be fair, Morocco has done CAF a lot of favours in recent years. They have invested heavily in infrastructure and have stepped in to host tournaments when others could not. But has that success gone to their heads?”
He argued that Morocco may feel entitled to special treatment because of their contributions to African football, a mindset he described as dangerous. “CAF has the absolute authority to punish any federation. No country is superior to another, regardless of the favours they believe they have done.”
Agbede further suggested that the WAFCON situation could be linked to Morocco’s dissatisfaction with the sanctions imposed after the AFCON final. “They feel they shouldn’t have been punished the way they were, and this could be part of that frustration,” he said, adding that the tournament would go ahead regardless of Morocco’s stance.
“The WAFCON will still happen,” he noted. “Maybe the pitches won’t be as silky, and the experience may not be as pristine as it would have been in Morocco, but African women’s football will move on.”
Meanwhile, confusion remains at official level. Earlier this week, South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, stated that no formal decision has been taken to relocate the 2026 WAFCON away from Morocco. His comments followed an earlier announcement by his deputy suggesting South Africa could step in to host the tournament if required.
The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is currently scheduled to kick off on March 17, with CAF yet to make a definitive announcement on the final host nation.