Our Reporter, Abuja
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has stripped Senegal of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, awarding the trophy to Morocco 58 days after the final.
In a stunning and unprecedented ruling, CAF’s Appeals Board declared that Senegal forfeited the final following an appeal lodged by Morocco, overturning the West Africans’ 1-0 victory recorded on January 18 in Rabat.
According to CAF, the decision was based on Senegal’s conduct during the match, which was found to have breached Article 82 of the competition’s regulations. “The Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final,” a CAF spokesperson said, adding that Morocco’s appeal was “admissible and upheld.”
The controversy stems from dramatic scenes late in the match when Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in the 98th minute in protest over a disputed decision, including the award of a penalty to the hosts. The team remained off the field for about 17 minutes as tensions escalated, with some fans attempting to invade the pitch.
Play eventually resumed after intervention from former Sadio Mane, who persuaded his teammates to return. Brahim Diaz stepped up to take the penalty, but his effort was saved by Edouard Mendy, sending the game into extra time.
Senegal went on to score the decisive goal through Pape Gueye, securing what they believed was their second AFCON title in five years.
However, following Morocco’s protest, CAF reviewed the incident and ruled that Senegal’s temporary abandonment of the match constituted a forfeiture, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory and the title.
CAF also issued a series of disciplinary rulings linked to the match. A fine imposed on Morocco’s Ismael Saibari was dismissed, with his suspension reduced, while a sanction relating to ball-boy conduct was partially upheld with a reduced penalty. An appeal concerning alleged interference in the VAR area was rejected, with a $100,000 fine maintained.
Reacting to the decision, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation said its appeal was not aimed at undermining any team’s performance but to ensure compliance with the rules.
“The Federation wishes to recall that its approach has never been intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition’s regulations,” the statement read.
It added that the body remains committed to upholding the rules and maintaining stability in African football, while commending all teams that participated in the tournament.
