The Guinean Football Federation (FGF) has dismissed reports suggesting it has taken steps to challenge the outcome of the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations, insisting it has made no approach to either the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) or the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
In a press release issued on Sunday, the federation said claims circulating in recent days particularly on social media about a supposed effort to contest the result of the Guinea-Morocco match from the 1976 tournament were unfounded.
“The Guinean Football Federation (FGF) has made it known to national and international public opinion that it has not initiated any proceedings either with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), nor with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in connection with the 1976 African Cup of Nations. In recent days, information relayed on various media, notably social networks, wrongly evokes a supposed approach by Guinea aimed at contesting the result of the match having opposed Syli National to Morocco during this competition,” the statement said.
The federation added that it wished to provide clarity “in a spirit of responsibility and reassurance,” stressing that the information being shared had “no official basis.”
FGF also revisited the historical context of the match in question, which took place on 14 March 1976 in Addis Ababa. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Guinea taking the lead through Chérif Souleymane in the 33rd minute before Morocco equalised late on via Ahmed Makrouh, also known as “Baba,” in the 86th minute.
“The Guinean Football Federation would like to clarify, in a spirit of responsibility and reassurance, that this information is inaccurate and has no official basis. Regarding historical facts, the FGF recalls that the Guinea – Morocco match took place on March 14, 1976 in Addis Ababa, under the direction of Zambian referee Nyirenda Chayu. It ended with a score of 1-1, Guinea having opened the score in the 33.1 minute by Chérif Souleymane, before the Moroccan equalizer in the 86th minute by Ahmed Makrouh known as “Baba”,” the statement continued.
The federation further explained that the 1976 edition of the tournament did not feature a traditional final. Instead, the competition concluded with a final group stage in a mini-league format, where the overall standings determined the winner.
According to the FGF, Morocco finished top of that final group and were duly crowned African champions, while Guinea ended the tournament in second place.
The clarification comes amid renewed debate following a recent CAF Appeals Board decision involving Senegal, which has fuelled speculation and revived discussions around past tournaments. Some reports had suggested that Guinea might seek to revisit the 1976 outcome, but the federation has now firmly rejected those claims.
The FGF’s statement appears aimed at putting an end to the speculation, reaffirming its position on the matter and distancing itself from any suggestion of a formal dispute over one of African football’s historic competitions.
