Moroccan player Ayman Rchouq of the UAE's Hatta Club has affirmed that the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to return the Africa Cup of Nations title to the Moroccan national team was the right one. He stated that the decision restored the rights to their rightful owners and that the Moroccan football family had made tremendous efforts to win a title that had been absent from the team's collection since 1976. Rchouq told "Al Ittihad" that the decision brought joy to the Moroccan national team's fans and confirmed the credibility and justice of CAF. He pointed out that the appeal filed by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation was based on a strong case prepared by a team with extensive experience in sports law, which was handled with calm and discretion, paving the way for its success. It is worth noting that Rchouq had previously represented the Moroccan national team for the under-15s and is considered one of the elite Moroccan players in UAE clubs, having previously played for clubs in Kalba, Khorfakkan, and Dibba, and continues his journey with Hatta Club. Rchouq emphasized that CAF's decision to right the wrongs for the Moroccan team was not arbitrary but a natural consequence of the significant controversy and errors that required firm and clear handling. African football will benefit in the future from the events of the Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal. He explained that the administrative and judgmental errors during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final necessitated clear decisions to preserve the fairness of the competition. He indicated that African football will benefit in the future from the events of the Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal, asserting that the best description of the decision is: "justice has been restored." Rchouq also addressed the penalty missed by Real Madrid player Ibrahim Diaz in the final, which sparked much debate. He stressed that Moroccan fans understand the nature of football and its circumstances, which is why they dealt with the situation calmly over time. He added that the referee managed the match under immense pressure but was required to end it officially and clearly to avoid any controversy or ambiguity about the result, especially after the Senegalese team's withdrawal. He stressed that any withdrawal or failure to complete a match must be met with clear penalties according to regulations, as respecting the rules is the foundation of sporting justice and maintains the credibility of African tournaments. He pointed out that this case restored credibility and integrity to African football, citing the incident with Moroccan Wydad in the CAF Champions League final against Esperance of Tunisia, confirming that that event contributed to changing many things, although Wydad did not get its full right at the time, in his words. Rchouq sent a message to Moroccan fans, saying: "You deserve thanks for the great support you give to the Moroccan national team, as well as to us, players in the UAE league. This makes us very happy, and we hope you will continue to support and encourage the Atlas Lions, and that the team will achieve all the best success and success in the upcoming World Cup."
