The Senegalese government has swiftly responded to a controversial ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Jury, which declared Senegal’s national team forfeited from the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Morocco 2025 final, awarding the trophy to Morocco.

In an official statement released this Wednesday, the government labeled the decision as “unprecedented, of exceptional gravity,” asserting that it directly contradicts the fundamental principles of sportsmanship, notably fairness, loyalty, and respect for the integrity of on-field play.

Unequivocally rejecting this “unjustified attempt at dispossession,” the Senegalese authorities are now calling for an independent international investigation into “suspicions of corruption within CAF’s governing bodies.”

While actively engaged in addressing the situation of Senegalese supporters detained in Morocco following incidents during the CAN 2025 final, the government reiterated its unwavering commitment to defending the rights of the Senegalese national team and upholding the honor of African football.

CAF’s Controversial Ruling

Morocco was officially declared the winner of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 after CAF’s decision to annul the final match result, citing Senegal’s contentious abandonment of play.

The original final, held on January 18th, saw Senegal defeat Morocco 1-0. However, the game was marred by Senegalese players refusing to continue after a penalty was awarded to Morocco in injury time, with the score still level at 0-0.

Following an approximate 17-minute stoppage, the teams eventually returned to the pitch. Brahim Diaz’s subsequent penalty attempt was saved, and Pape Gueye later secured what was believed to be the winning goal in extra time.

Despite this on-field victory, the result was overturned by the African football governing body’s appeal commission.

In its official communication, CAF stated that Senegal was “declared forfeited for the final,” and the “match result was recorded as being 3-0 in favor” of Morocco. The Senegalese Football Federation has announced its firm intention to challenge CAF’s decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), condemning it as an “unjust, unprecedented, and unacceptable decision that brings disrepute to African football.”

This ruling was prompted by an appeal lodged by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), which CAF deemed “admissible in form” and subsequently upheld.

CAF further elaborated that, through its team’s actions, Senegal violated Article 82 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations, thereby triggering the application of Article 84.

Article 82 stipulates that any team refusing to play or leaving the field before the end of regulation time without the referee’s authorization shall be declared a loser and eliminated from the competition.

Article 84 complements this by specifying that any team infringing Article 82 is definitively eliminated and loses the match by a 3-0 score. The FRMF, in its statement, clarified that its decision to appeal the final result was “never intended to question the sporting performance of the teams,” but rather represented a demand for “the application of competition regulations.”

“The federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework, and maintaining the stability of African competitions,” the FRMF added. “It also extends its congratulations to all nations that participated in this edition of CAN, which marked a significant turning point for African football.”

Earlier, a video circulated on the Senegalese men’s national team’s X account, depicting players celebrating their initial victory in a bus parade, proudly displaying the CAN trophy alongside an “OK” emoji.

Maher Mezahi, a North African sports journalist, conveyed to BBC Radio 5 Live that the decision to nullify the result would not diminish the emotional impact for those who witnessed the encounter.

“You cannot erase the last 16 minutes of that match and what we saw,” he asserted. “You cannot erase the emotion of seeing Senegal lift the trophy, the players returning home with the medal and parading.”

Recap: The CAN 2025 Final Drama

With the score deadlocked at 0-0, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded a penalty kick in the eighth minute of injury time.

Ndala was prompted by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to review the challenge by defender El Hadji Malick Diouf on Diaz on the monitor.

Senegal’s coach, Pape Thiaw, still incensed by Ndala’s earlier decision to disallow a Senegalese goal by Ismaïla Sarr, ordered his team off the field in protest.

Former Liverpool forward Sadio Mané remained on the pitch, attempting to persuade his Senegalese teammates to complete the match.

After a 17-minute interruption, the Senegalese players eventually returned to action.

Real Madrid attacker Diaz stepped up to take the penalty, but his softly-struck “Panenka” attempt was easily collected by Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, who barely needed to move. Ndala immediately blew the final whistle.

Villarreal midfielder Gueye then scored the decisive goal in the fourth minute of extra time, securing what was then celebrated as Senegal’s second triumph in five years.

In his post-match press conference, Morocco’s coach, Walid Regragui, condemned Senegal’s actions as “shameful” and declared they “do not honor Africa.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino also strongly criticized the “deplorable scenes” in an Instagram post.

Coach Thiaw’s press conference was subsequently canceled following an altercation in the media room.

However, in a post-match interview, Thiaw admitted his error in ordering his team off the pitch and offered his “apologies to football.”

Morocco later dismissed coach Walid Regragui on March 5th, four months prior to the World Cup finals.