Senegal demands independent probe into the Confederation of African Football after the governing body controversially stripped the country of its Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded the victory to Morocco. The move has sparked outrage across Senegal and reignited debates over fairness and governance in African football.
The controversy traces back to the AFCON final in Rabat on January 18, when Senegalese players briefly left the field in protest after Morocco was awarded a late penalty during stoppage time. Captain Sadio Mané convinced the team to return, and Morocco missed the penalty. Senegal went on to score in extra time, winning 1-0. Yet on March 17, CAF announced it had upheld Morocco’s appeal, ruling that Senegal forfeited the match due to the walk-off, recording the official result as a 3-0 victory for Morocco.
Senegal’s government reacted sharply. Spokeswoman Marie Rose Khady Fatou Faye called the ruling “a grossly illegal and profoundly unjust decision” and said it undermined CAF’s credibility. “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,” she said. Senegal plans to pursue legal action through the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 48 hours.
The Senegalese Football Federation has formally requested that CAF suspend enforcement of the ruling and halt any process to return the trophy to Morocco until arbitration concludes. The situation is further complicated by the detention of 18 Senegalese fans in Morocco. Convicted in February for violence against security personnel and property damage, they received prison sentences ranging from three months to one year, with accompanying fines.
The Senegalese government affirmed its commitment to the detained fans and pledged to seek a fair resolution to both the legal and diplomatic aspects of the crisis. The case highlights ongoing tensions in African football governance and raises questions about accountability and transparency in high-stakes competitions.
