Walid Regragui reflects on Morocco's AFCON final heartbreak amid controversy

Despite dominating large portions of the match, the Atlas Lions fell 1-0 to Senegal in extra time after a penalty controversy sparked protests and a lengthy delay.

"The image we gave of African football was rather shameful," Regragui said after the match, according to Flashscore.

"Stopping the game for more than 10 minutes with the world watching is not very classy. We must learn from this."

Morocco appeared on the brink of victory when they were awarded a penalty deep in stoppage time following a VAR review of a challenge on Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz by Senegal's El Hadji Malick Diouf.

The decision provoked fury from Senegal players, some of whom walked off the pitch, while fans clashed with stewards near the field.

The match was delayed for nearly 20 minutes before Diaz finally stepped up, only for his chipped Panenka attempt to be comfortably saved.

Regragui suggested the delay may have affected Diaz, who had been one of Morocco's standout performers throughout the tournament.

"He had a lot of time before taking the penalty, which must have disturbed him," the coach said.

"But we can't change what happened. We need to look forward now."

Senegal capitalised in extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring a stunning winner to seal their second AFCON title.

For Morocco, the defeat ended a run of unbeaten matches since their 2024 round-of-16 exit to South Africa and denied them a first continental crown in 50 years.

"Football sometimes is cruel," Regragui said. "In a final, you get very few chances and must take them. That penalty could have won us the title, but it was not to be. We missed the chance of a lifetime."

Regragui also expressed concern for striker Hamza Igamane, who was forced off late and may have suffered a ruptured ACL.

With the World Cup in North America just months away, Morocco will need to recover quickly as they prepare to face Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti in the group stage.

Despite the heartbreak, the coach remains determined to build on the squad's progress.