Guinea FA issues strong denial
In response, the Fédération guinéenne de football (FGF) released an official statement firmly rejecting these allegations. The federation confirmed that it has not initiated any legal action before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) or CAF regarding AFCON 1976, describing the circulating claims as “inaccurate and unfounded.”
Match facts contradict the rumors
To clarify the situation, the Guinean FA revisited the details of the March 14, 1976 match played in Addis Ababa. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Chérif Souleymane opening the scoring before Ahmed Makrouh, also known as “Baba,” equalized late in the match. No incidents were reported during or after the game, directly contradicting the viral narrative.
A different competition format in 1976
The controversy also highlights a common misunderstanding of the tournament format at the time. Unlike today’s final-based system, AFCON 1976 concluded with a final group stage. Morocco finished top of that group, ahead of Guinea, securing the title in full compliance with the rules.
Statement from the Guinean Football Federation
The Guinean Football Federation (FGF) wishes to inform the national and international public that it has not initiated any proceedings before either the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) or the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in connection with the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations.
In recent days, information circulated across various platforms, particularly on social media, has incorrectly suggested that Guinea has taken steps to challenge the result of the match between the Syli National and Morocco during that tournament.
The Guinean Football Federation would like to clarify, in a spirit of responsibility and calm, that these claims are inaccurate and have no official basis.
Regarding the historical facts, the FGF recalls that the Guinea–Morocco match was played on March 14, 1976, in Addis Ababa, under the officiating of Zambian referee Nyirenda Chayu.
The match ended in a 1–1 draw, with Guinea opening the scoring in the 33rd minute through Chérif Souleymane, before Morocco equalized in the 86th minute through Ahmed Makrouh, known as “Baba”.
The Federation also wishes to recall, for historical clarification, that in accordance with the regulations in force at the time, the competition did not include a traditional final.
After an initial group stage, the qualified teams competed in a final round-robin group, with the standings directly determining the winner.
In this context, Morocco finished at the top of this final group and was duly crowned African champion, with Guinea finishing in second place.
The Guinean Football Federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting historical facts and sporting regulations.
It calls, with composure, on the media and all stakeholders to prioritize verified information and to avoid any interpretation likely to create confusion.
The FGF remains fully committed to promoting the values of fair play, mutual respect, and unity within African football.
