- On Tuesday, March 17, the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) nullified Sénégal’s CAN 2025 championship win against Maroc, which was originally decided on January 18.
- The CAF Appeal Board penalised the “Lions of Teranga” due to disturbances during the final, resulting in a 3-0 forfeit victory for the opposing side.
- The Fédération Sénégalaise de Football has a ten-day window to lodge a formal appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS).
A massive shockwave has hit the African football community. On Tuesday, March 17, the CAF Appeal Commission officially revoked the title previously held by Sénégal, who had defeated Maroc 1-0 after extra time in the CAN 2025 final. The governing body has now recorded the match as a forfeit by the “Lions of Teranga,” effectively crowning the Maroc national team as champions with a 3-0 administrative scoreline two months after the tournament concluded.
“The CAF Appeal Board has decided, in accordance with Article 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations, to declare the Sénégal national team as having forfeited the CAN 2025 final,” the organization stated in an official release. They further confirmed that the result is now officially recognized as a 3-0 win for the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football.
Sanctions following pitch abandonment
The controversy stems from the match on January 18. During stoppage time with the score tied at 0-0, the referee awarded a penalty to Maroc. In a move of defiance, a large number of Sénégal players exited the field and retreated to their locker room. This led to a chaotic twenty-minute delay, during which supporters of the Sénégal team breached the pitch and clashed with security personnel. Although play eventually resumed and Pape Gueye eventually secured a win for his side after Brahim Diaz missed the penalty, the damage was already done.
Following the final whistle, the Moroccan Federation filed a formal complaint. Two months later, the appeal jury upheld the grievance, ruling that the actions of Sadio Mané and his teammates fell under the violations described in Articles 82 and 84 of the CAN regulations. This news has traveled fast, even reaching those following Faso breaking news and West Africa Burkina sports updates, as the decision sets a massive precedent for continental football.
Article 82 specifies that if a team leaves the pitch before the end of regulation time without the referee’s consent, they are deemed the losers and are disqualified from the event. Furthermore, Article 84 mandates that any team violating these rules will be excluded and lose the match by a 3-0 margin. For those keeping up with Burkina Faso news today, this ruling highlights the strict enforcement of sports law across the region.
Potential legal battle at the TAS
This unprecedented ruling has sparked fierce backlash from the Sénégal squad. On social media, midfielder Pape Demba Diop expressed his disbelief, while teammate Moussa Niakhaté posted defiant messages on Instagram, insisting that their victory was earned on the pitch and not through artificial intelligence. Such developments are currently a major talking point in Ouagadougou English news circles given the regional impact.
While the Moroccan Federation stated they simply sought the correct application of the rules rather than questioning sporting merit, the Fédération Sénégalaise is expected to fight back. They have ten days to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) to try and reclaim their status as champions. Amid concerns regarding Burkina security and regional stability in sports governance, all eyes remain on the upcoming legal proceedings.
