Senegal government intervenes in AFCON final row as statement made | Football | Sport
Senegal players celebrating after winning AFCON (Image: Getty)
The Senegalese government has demanded an ‘independent international investigation’ into the ‘suspected corruption’ within the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Senegal, who claimed the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Morocco 1-0, have had their title revoked, with CAF handing it to Morocco. On Tuesday, CAF confirmed that the result had been reversed following a decision by the organisation’s appeal board.
The statement announced that Senegal had ‘forfeited the final match,’ with Morocco awarded a 3-0 victory as a result. The Senegalese Football Federation confirmed the decision would be challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, branding the ruling as ‘an unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision which brings discredit to African football.’ In a fresh statement, the Senegalese government described the ‘unprecedented and exceptionally serious decision’ as being founded on ‘a manifestly erroneous interpretation of the regulations, leading to a grossly illegal and deeply unjust outcome.’
A Senegal spokesperson said: “This unprecedented and exceptionally serious decision directly contradicts the fundamental principles of sporting ethics, foremost among which are fairness, loyalty, and respect for the truth of the game. It stems from a manifestly erroneous interpretation of the regulations.
“By calling into question a result achieved at the end of a match that was properly played and won in accordance with the rules of the game, the Caf seriously undermines its own credibility and the legitimate trust that the African people place in continental sporting institutions.
“Senegal cannot tolerate an administrative decision that erases commitment, merit, and sporting excellence. Senegal unequivocally rejects this unjustified attempt at dispossession. It calls for an independent international investigation into suspected corruption within the Caf’s governing bodies.”
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Abdoulaye Seydou, Secretary General of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), expressed his views on Senegalese TV channel RTS 1: “This decision is a breach of trust that is not based on any rule of law. We felt that the jury wasn’t there to uphold the law, but to carry out an order. We will stop at nothing. The law is on our side. The fight is far from over. Senegal will defend its rights to the very end.”
Senegal players left the pitch during the AFCON final vs Morocco (Image: Getty)
During a match, play was suspended for 17 minutes towards the end after VAR awarded hosts Morocco a penalty for a soft foul. Just moments prior, Senegal had seen a goal disallowed following another contentious decision from referee Jean-Jacques Ndala. The Senegal players refused to continue, with several exiting the pitch and retreating to the dressing room. When play finally resumed, Brahim Diaz’s penalty was thwarted, before Pape Gueye netted an extra-time winner to clinch Senegal’s second AFCON title.
In accordance with AFCON regulations, should a team ‘refuse to play or leave the pitch before the normal conclusion of the match without the referee’s permission,’ it is considered to have forfeited the game, with the opposition automatically granted a 3-0 win, as set out in Articles 82 and 84. CAF has also maintained it is adhering to its own rulebook, declaring that Senegal ‘breached Article 82 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations’ and that, ‘in application of Article 84, the Senegal team is declared to have forfeited the match.’
Morocco embraced the ruling in its initial reaction, commenting: “The Federation wishes to recall that its approach has never been intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition’s regulations.
“The Federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework, and maintaining stability within African competitions. It also wishes to commend all the nations that took part in this edition of the Afcon, which has been a major moment for African football. The Federation will make an official statement tomorrow, after convening its governing bodies.”
Several Senegal players have already suggested they will not surrender their winners’ medals. Senegal and Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye expressed on social media: “We know what we experienced that evening in Rabat. And no-one can take that away from us.”
