Senegal have confirmed they will appeal a decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip them of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and award the championship to Morocco, following a controversial ruling delivered on Tuesday.
CAF announced that, after reviewing an appeal lodged by Morocco, Senegal had forfeited the final played in Rabat on 18 January. The governing body ruled the match as a 3-0 victory in favour of Morocco, overturning Senegal’s 1-0 win after extra time.
The decision stems from an incident late in the match, when several Senegal players walked off the pitch in protest after the hosts were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time. Although captain Sadio Mané eventually persuaded his teammates to return, CAF determined that the temporary walk-off constituted a breach of competition regulations.
Citing Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON rules, CAF stated that any team refusing to continue play or leaving the field without the referee’s permission is deemed to have forfeited the match, resulting in a 3-0 loss and elimination from the competition.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) defended its appeal, saying it was not intended to challenge the sporting outcome but to ensure the rules were properly enforced. The federation emphasised its commitment to maintaining the integrity and consistency of African football competitions.
Senegal’s football authorities, however, strongly rejected the ruling, describing it as “unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable.” The Senegalese Football Federation confirmed it will take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a bid to overturn the decision.
The final itself was marred by chaos. With the match goalless in stoppage time, Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty following a VAR review for a challenge on Brahim Díaz. The decision triggered protests from Senegal players, halting the game for nearly 20 minutes and prompting unrest among supporters, including an attempted pitch invasion.
When play resumed, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved Díaz’s penalty attempt. The match proceeded to extra time, where Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal in the 94th minute to secure what was initially celebrated as Senegal’s victory.
Following CAF’s ruling, several Senegal players voiced their frustration on social media. Defender Moussa Niakhaté posted an image of himself lifting the trophy alongside a caption criticising the decision.
In the aftermath of the original final, FIFA president Gianni Infantino condemned the conduct of some Senegal players, calling their actions “unacceptable” and stressing that both abandoning the field of play and acts of violence have no place in football.
CAF had already imposed disciplinary sanctions in January, including substantial fines against both federations for unsporting behaviour and breaches of fair play regulations.
Meanwhile, legal proceedings involving 18 Senegal supporters arrested after the final for hooliganism-related offences have been postponed until 30 March.
The latest development sets the stage for a high-stakes legal battle, with Senegal determined to challenge a decision that could have lasting implications for African football governance and the enforcement of match regulations.