The African football landscape is in turmoil after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) voided Senegal‘s victory in the CAN 2025 final, originally won 1-0 in extra time against Morocco on January 18. The decision, handed down on March 17 by the CAF Appeal Board, stripped the Lions of Teranga of their title and awarded a 3-0 walkover victory to the Atlas Lions.

Protest on the pitch leads to disciplinary ruling

During the decisive match, an 88th-minute penalty was awarded to Morocco as the score stood at 0-0 in added time. In protest, most of Senegal‘s players abandoned the field and retreated to their locker rooms. The interruption lasted nearly 20 minutes, during which Senegal supporters stormed the pitch and clashed with security personnel. Play resumed under chaotic conditions, with Morocco’s missed penalty followed by Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner for Senegal.

Following the final whistle, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) filed a formal complaint with CAF, citing breaches of tournament regulations. After thorough review, the CAF Appeal Board ruled that Senegal‘s actions violated articles 82 and 84 of the CAN competition rules.

Key regulations invoked

• Article 82: “If a team exits the field before the end of regulation time without the referee’s permission, it will be deemed the losing side and disqualified from the ongoing tournament.”
• Article 84: “Teams breaching articles 82 or 83 will be immediately eliminated from the competition, forfeit their match 3-0, and face further sanctions.”

Senegal faces tough choices after controversial ruling

Reactions from Senegal‘s camp were swift and sharp. Midfielder Pape Demba Diop took to social media, declaring, “On est chez les fous je pense” (“We’re dealing with lunatics, I think”). Teammate Moussa Niakhaté shared his disbelief, posting, “Venez les chercher ! Ils sont fous eux !” (“Come and get them! They’re the crazy ones!”) alongside images of the trophy. Another player posted a photo with the medal, stating, “Ce n’est pas de l’IA, c’est réel.” (“This isn’t AI, it’s real.”)

The Moroccan federation responded with measured acknowledgment, stating its complaint was “never about challenging the sporting performance of teams but solely about requesting the proper application of competition regulations.”

Senegal has a 10-day window to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Analysts suggest the case could hinge on whether the referee’s failure to intervene decisively during the player walkout mitigates the team’s punishment under tournament rules.

By Boureima Amadou — Reporter