In a highly controversial decision that has drawn widespread scrutiny, Senegal has announced its intention to appeal after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) stripped them of their Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded the championship to Morocco.
The ruling follows the dramatic final held in Rabat, where Senegal had initially secured a 1–0 victory after extra time. However CAF’s Appeals Committee later determined that Senegal had forfeited the match due to a temporary withdrawal of players from the field in protest against a late penalty decision. As a consequence, the result has been officially revised to a 3–0 victory in favour of Morocco.
The incident in question occurred during stoppage time, when a VAR review led to a penalty being awarded to Morocco following a challenge on Brahim Díaz.
In response, several Senegalese players left the pitch in protest, bringing the match to a halt for an extended period before eventually returning at the urging of captain Sadio Mané.
Despite the disruption, the penalty was ultimately missed, with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy making a comfortable save.
The match proceeded into extra time, where Pape Gueye scored what appeared to be the winning goal for Senegal an outcome that has since been overturned by CAF’s ruling.
CAF justified its decision by invoking Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations, which state that any team leaving the field of play without the referee’s authorisation shall be deemed to have forfeited the match and will be recorded as having lost 3–0.
Morocco’s football federation stated that its appeal was not intended to challenge the sporting outcome, but rather to ensure the proper application of the competition’s regulations, reaffirming its commitment to fairness and regulatory consistency.
Senegal’s football authorities, however, have strongly condemned the decision, describing it as unjust and unprecedented, and have confirmed that they will take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. They argue that the ruling risks undermining the credibility of African football.
The final itself was marred by disorder, including an attempted pitch invasion and prolonged protests that disrupted play. The penalty, taken well beyond the allotted stoppage time was widely viewed as having been affected by the extended delay.
In the aftermath, several players expressed their frustration publicly, while international football bodies criticised the scenes, emphasising that both on-field disruptions and crowd disturbances are incompatible with the spirit of the game.
CAF had already imposed significant disciplinary sanctions on both federations following the match, citing breaches of fair play and conduct.
Meanwhile legal proceedings involving supporters detained during the incident remain ongoing, further intensifying the controversy surrounding one of the most disputed finals in recent African football history.
