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Senegal stripped of 2025 Afcon title after pitch protest
Senegal's government has demanded an independent international investigation into alleged corruption at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after the country was stripped of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title and the trophy awarded to Morocco.
Controversial decision overturns Senegal's victory
Senegal clinched the Afcon title in January with a 1-0 extra-time win over Morocco in the final. However, CAF ruled on Tuesday that Senegal had forfeited the match after its players walked off the pitch in protest when Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty. The result was overturned to a 3-0 victory for Morocco following an appeal by the Moroccan Football Association (FRMF).
Senegal's players returned after a 17-minute delay, and Morocco's Brahim Diaz saw his 'Panenka' penalty saved before Senegal's Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal in extra time.
Government and federation reject ruling
The Senegalese government condemned the decision as "unprecedented and exceptionally serious," arguing it was based on a "manifestly erroneous interpretation of the regulations." In a statement, officials called the ruling "grossly illegal and deeply unjust" and vowed to challenge it.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) announced it would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), labeling the decision "unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable." FSF Secretary General Abdoulaye Seydou Sow told Senegalese TV channel RTS 1 that the ruling appeared to be "an order" rather than a legal judgment.
"We felt that the jury wasn't there to uphold the law, but to carry out an order. The fight is far from over. Senegal will defend its rights to the very end."
Abdoulaye Seydou Sow, FSF Secretary General
Players refuse to surrender medals
Some Senegal players, including Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye, have vowed not to relinquish their winners' medals. Gueye posted on social media: "We know what we experienced that evening in Rabat. And no-one can take that away from us."
The walk-off was triggered after referee Jean Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty in the 98th minute following a VAR review of a challenge by Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf on Diaz. Senegal had earlier seen a goal by Ismaila Sarr disallowed.
Global football bodies react
The International Football Association Board (IFAB), football's lawmaking body, has launched a consultation on how to handle situations where players unilaterally leave the field in protest. FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned the walk-off, calling it "unacceptable" and stating that such scenes "must be condemned and never repeated."
During the tournament, refereeing decisions and VAR use sparked widespread debate, with accusations that Morocco received favorable treatment from some officials. Senegal had previously raised concerns about security and refereeing ahead of the final.
Historical precedents for pitch protests
While the sanction against Senegal is unprecedented in global football, players walking off the pitch in protest is not new. In 1920, Czechoslovakia abandoned the Olympic final against Belgium after disputing a referee's decision, resulting in their disqualification. More recently, AC Milan's Kevin-Prince Boateng led his team off during a friendly in 2013 after facing racial abuse, and in 2020, players from Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir left the field after an official was accused of using a racist term.
In February 2026, Cameroonian club Colombe Sportive du Sud walked off during the Super Cup after a controversial penalty and red card, leading to an abandoned match whose outcome remains unresolved.
Reactions across Africa and beyond
Moroccan journalist Jalal Bounar told the BBC that the decision was met with "great excitement and joy" in Morocco, though he acknowledged that the rest of Africa viewed it differently. North African journalist Maher Mezahi described the ruling as another example of CAF's "amateurish" decision-making, citing past controversies such as Togo's ban from two Afcon tournaments after withdrawing from the 2010 edition following a gun attack on their team bus.
Raymond Hack, CAF's former head of disciplinary, questioned the ruling, suggesting it gave the impression of "political interference." He argued that only the referee could have ended the match and that Morocco's players should have played under protest if they intended to challenge the result.
"The game should be won on the field of play, not in a boardroom."
Raymond Hack, former CAF disciplinary head
Hack estimated that CAS could take up to six months to rule on Senegal's appeal.
