Senegal to appeal CAF decision awarding AFCON to Morocco
Senegal will appeal after CAF awarded Morocco a 3–0 victory and the 2025 AFCON title on March 17 in Rabat, ruling the final forfeited due to Senegal’s mid-game walk-off protest over a penalty decision.
CAF’s appeal board applied tournament rules, overturning Senegal’s 1–0 extra-time win and declaring Morocco champions for the first time since 1976. Senegal’s players had briefly left the pitch before returning to complete the match, where Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal.
The Senegalese federation condemned the ruling as “illegal and deeply unjust,” confirming plans to challenge it at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Government officials added the verdict “contradicts the fundamental principles of sporting ethics.”
Morocco’s federation said its position was about “respecting the rules,” not disputing on-field performance.
Players also reacted strongly, with Sadio Mané stating: “This is not the football we fight for,” while defender Moussa Niakhaté mocked the decision online.