French sports newspaper L’Équipe is under criticism after publishing – then quietly deleting – a false claim about Morocco’s national football team’s historic Africa Cup of Nations performance.
The outlet had repeated an allegation that Morocco walked off the pitch during the decisive match of the 1976 AFCON, a claim used online to draw parallels with the walking off of Senegal during the 2025 AFCON final.
L’Équipe later removed the claim without issuing any apology or correction, despite its wide circulation.
The story, which spread across several platforms including BeIN Sports, Goal and Koora, alleged that Morocco protested a refereeing decision in 1976 by leaving the field before returning to secure the title.
But the narrative was swiftly debunked by Ismael Sylla, a former Guinea international who played in that match.
Speaking to TV5MONDE, Sylla insisted Morocco never left the pitch, that the match unfolded normally, and that Guinea conceded a late equalizer that gave Morocco the title under the final‑group format used that year.
Media observers have noted that L’Équipe’s retraction lacked transparency, as the outlet removed the claim without acknowledgement, raising concerns about editorial accountability.
The debunked allegation has fueled criticism that misinformation targeting Morocco’s team was allowed to spread unchecked by a major international outlet. The absence of an apology has further irritated Moroccan supporters, who argue that such historically inaccurate reporting undermines trust in mainstream sports journalism.
