Senegal has been stripped of its Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title following a ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over misconduct during the tournament final.
CAF’s Appeal Board confirmed that Senegal is “declared to have forfeited” the January final after players walked off the pitch. Although Senegal had originally secured a 1-0 victory, the result will now be officially recorded as a 3-0 win for Morocco, the host nation. Senegal has indicated it will appeal the decision.
CAF defended its stance by pointing to tournament regulations, which state that any team leaving the field without the referee’s authorisation is deemed to have lost the match and is eliminated.
CAF Decision Explained: Why Senegal Forfeited AFCON Final
The incident occurred at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, where Senegal’s players, under coach Pape Thiaw, exited the pitch amid rising tensions.
The situation escalated after Morocco were awarded a penalty in the 98th minute, prompting unrest among Senegal supporters, some of whom attempted to storm the field.
The atmosphere had already been charged after Senegal saw a goal ruled out shortly before the penalty decision.
Following a prolonged delay, Senegal’s players and coaching staff returned to the pitch. The penalty was ultimately saved by Senegal’s goalkeeper, and the team went on to win 1-0 in extra time—until the result was later overturned.
Reactions And Fallout From Morocco, FIFA And Senegal
In the aftermath of the match, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation said it would “pursue legal action”, stating the walk-off “had a significant impact on the normal course of the match and on the players’ performance”.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino criticised the events, describing them as “unacceptable scenes on the field and in the stands”, while also condemning the behaviour of some “supporters” alongside Senegal’s players and staff.
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An earlier CAF disciplinary hearing had allowed the result to stand but imposed fines exceeding $1m (£750,000) and issued bans affecting players from both teams. However, the latest appeal ruling reverses that outcome entirely.
Senegal’s football authorities have reacted strongly. Abdoulaye Seydou Sow, secretary general of the Senegalese Football Federation, described the decision as a “travesty” and a “shame for Africa”. Defender Moussa Niakhate also shared an image of himself holding the trophy on Instagram, captioned: “Come and get it! They’re crazy!”.
What Happens Next: Senegal’s Potential Appeal To CAS
The revised verdict hands Morocco their first African title since 1976. Senegal has yet to confirm where it will lodge its appeal, though one possible route is the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), an independent body based in Switzerland that handles global sporting disputes.
Any case taken to CAS could take around a year to conclude, meaning the issue may remain unresolved as both nations prepare for the 2026 World Cup later this year.
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