The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has delivered a decisive verdict in the aftermath of the chaotic 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, stripping Senegal of the championship title and awarding a 3-0 victory to Morocco by default.
This unprecedented decision stems from the Lions of Teranga‘s walk-off protest in the dying moments of extra time, triggered by a controversial penalty call against them. Senegal’s coach Pape Thiaw ordered his players to abandon the field in Rabat, citing what he deemed an unjust refereeing decision. The protest, though brief, had far-reaching consequences, leading to the federation’s disqualification.
CAF’s appeal commission delivers final ruling
The CAF Appeal Committee ruled that Senegal’s actions violated Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament’s regulations, confirming a technical defeat for the West African side. The committee fully upheld Morocco’s appeal, reversing an earlier disciplinary decision and validating the 3-0 forfeit victory. The official statement emphasized:
« The Appeal Committee found that the conduct of the Senegal national team fell under the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations. By leaving the field, Senegal breached the rules, resulting in a default loss. The committee confirms that Morocco’s claim has been fully accepted, and the previous disciplinary decision is annulled. »
what sparked the walk-off protest?
The controversy ignited when Morocco’s Brahim Diaz collapsed in the penalty area late in added time. Despite initial hesitation, the referee consulted the VAR and awarded a penalty to the hosts. This decision provoked an immediate reaction from Senegal’s bench, with coach Pape Thiaw directing his players to leave the pitch in protest. The protest lasted several minutes before some players, including star forward Sadio Mané, convinced their teammates to return and complete the match.
Mané later reflected on the incident, stating:
« When they decided to walk off, I stayed and asked others what they thought. I went to bring everyone back because it’s just football. The referee can make mistakes—what matters is respecting the game. It wasn’t fair to stop like that. »
The match resumed, and Diaz missed the penalty in dramatic fashion, attempting a risky Panenka that was saved by the goalkeeper. With the score still level at 0-0, the game went into extra time. Papa Gueye eventually scored, securing a lead for Senegal—only for the result to be nullified by the CAF’s ruling.
financial penalties and VAR controversies
While Morocco emerged victorious, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) was not spared financial sanctions. The CAF Appeal Committee confirmed a $100,000 fine for interference with the VAR review process during a tense second-half incident. Additional fines were adjusted: the laser incident penalty was reduced to $10,000, and a controversial ball-boy interference case saw its fine halved to $50,000.
The ruling marks a historic and contentious moment in African football, as the title Senegal had fought so hard to earn was stripped away in the boardroom rather than on the pitch. The decision underscores the strict enforcement of regulations in high-stakes tournaments and leaves a complex legacy for both nations in the annals of AFCON history.
