Guard of honor, chambering… Two Moroccan footballers celebrate their title of African champion on the green carpet

They didn’t have to be asked to celebrate. The day after the shock announcement from the CAF (Confederation of African Football), declaring Morocco the winner on the green carpet of CAN 2025 despite its loss in the final against Senegal, it is already time for celebration for certain players of the Atlas Lions.

Sofyan Amrabat and Abde Ezzalzouli, executives of Betis Sevilla in Spain, were given a guard of honor by their teammates this Wednesday morning in training, according to a video captured by the Spanish media EFE Sports.

A tradition in Spain

We see the two men, present in the Moroccan group at the beginning of January, receiving a “pasillo”, a tribute traditionally reserved for winners in the Iberian championship. Applauded and cheered by their teammates, some patting them on the back of the head, Amrabat and Ezzalzouli appeared smiling and relaxed. A context of joy reinforced by the absence of Senegalese internationals within the Sevillian squad, which probably encouraged the two players to celebrate freely in the company of their partners.

As a reminder, the CAF appeal jury decided to declare “the Senegal national team forfeited” and give the title to the Moroccans late in the night of Tuesday March 17. Based on articles 82 and 84 of the competition regulations, the body considered that the appeal brought by the Moroccan Federation following the first round of sanctions was legitimate.

But the affair is probably not at its last twist, since the Senegalese government is calling for an investigation into “suspicions of corruption” within the CAF, while the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has chosen to initiate proceedings with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.