A senior official from African football’s governing body has condemned the decision to revoke Senegal’s title for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, describing it as “abject” and emphasizing the need for denunciation.
Senegal triumphed over Morocco 1-0 in the final held in January, but the Confederation of African Football (CAF) reversed the outcome on Tuesday, citing Senegal’s players’ walk-off in protest when Morocco received a stoppage-time penalty.
After a 17-minute delay, play resumed, and although Morocco’s Brahim Diaz had his penalty saved, Senegal’s Pape Gueye ultimately scored the decisive goal in extra time.
Following an appeal from the Moroccan Football Association (FRMF), CAF ruled that Senegal’s walk-off constituted a forfeit, officially recording the match as a 3-0 victory for Morocco.
Augustin Senghor, a member of the CAF executive committee and former head of the Senegalese Football Federation, expressed to BBC World Service’s Newsday the importance of combating injustice in such circumstances. “Football is about fair play and should be decided on the field, not in offices,” he stated, labeling the CAF’s actions as unacceptable. He insisted, “When a committee makes such a decision that violates our rules and FIFA’s laws, awarding the trophy to Morocco is deeply troubling. We must denounce it.”
In response, the FRMF issued a statement asserting that the CAF verdict reinforces adherence to necessary regulations for international competition. They claimed, “This decision clarifies the framework applicable to similar situations in the future and enhances the consistency and credibility of international competitions, particularly in African football.”
However, Senghor contended that the decision stemmed from pressure exerted by the FRMF. “Senegal will continue to fight, as this marks an unprecedented event in the history of African and world football,” he stated confidently. “I firmly believe that if we appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, we will prevail, and the trophy will remain in Senegal.”
CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe remarked on Wednesday that the events during the final compromised the integrity, respect, ethics, governance, and credibility of football competitions. He emphasized the importance of respecting the decisions made by both the CAF disciplinary board and appeals board, asserting that no country in Africa would receive preferential treatment.
Former coaches Claude le Roy, who has managed teams in Cameroon, Ghana, and Senegal, criticized both CAF and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “CAF lacks high-quality leadership, and they are under Mr. Infantino’s control, which I believe is the source of all these problems,” he told BBC Newsday. “Prior to this, the Africa Cup of Nations was exceptional, perhaps the best in its history. The delayed decision undermines the spirit of this remarkable tournament in Morocco.”
Morocco is set to be one of six co-hosts for the 2030 World Cup, alongside Spain, Portugal, Uruguay—marking the centenary of the first final in 1930—Argentina, and Paraguay.
