CAF strips Senegal of 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title after walk-off protest in final
Consensus Summary
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) controversially stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title after the Senegalese team walked off the pitch during the final in protest against a late penalty awarded to Morocco. The match, played on January 18, 2025, in Rabat, ended 1-0 in extra time with Senegal winning on a goal by Pape Gueye, but CAF’s appeal board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the game due to the walk-off, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory. The decision was based on articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations, which outline forfeit conditions, and sparked widespread outrage among Senegalese fans and officials, who called it unfair and unprecedented. Senegal’s federation has vowed to appeal the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, while critics, including former CAF officials and Senegalese leaders, have accused CAF of corruption and inconsistency in enforcing its own rules. The controversy has reignited debates about the integrity of African football governance, particularly under CAF president Patrice Motsepe, who faces growing skepticism over his leadership amid prior controversies like the postponement of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final was played on January 18, 2025, in Rabat, Morocco, between Senegal and Morocco, ending 1-0 in extra time with Senegal winning on a goal by Pape Gueye.
- Senegal’s coach Pape Thiaw and some players walked off the pitch for 15-16 minutes during the final in protest after Morocco was awarded a late penalty kick.
- CAF’s appeal board ruled on June 2025 that Senegal had forfeited the match, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory and the title, citing articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations.
- Senegal’s Football Federation confirmed it would appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.
- CAF initially imposed fines exceeding $1 million and bans on players and officials from both teams after the walk-off, but left the match result unchanged until the appeal decision.
- Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo restarted the match after the walk-off, allowing Morocco’s Brahim Díaz to take a penalty kick that was saved by Edouard Mendy.
- Morocco had not won the Africa Cup of Nations since 1976 and were heavy favorites as hosts in the 2025 tournament.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Patrice Evra, a Dakar-born ex-French international, called the CAF decision an April Fool’s joke and stated, 'The real champions are Senegal and they always will be.'
- Senegalese journalist El Hadji Thierno Dramé described the decision as 'bordering on the burlesque' and a 'catastrophe.'
- Ismail Jakobs, a Senegalese left-back, previously alleged that three teammates were poisoned before the final, echoing similar claims from Gabon’s coach in 2017.
- Pape Ousmane Ba accused CAF of corruption, stating, 'It’s corruption... African football is very corrupt and this scandal shows it in a flagrant light.'
- Domino’s Pizza UK posted a meme on X saying, 'Just had Morocco come in and collect Senegal’s order.'
- A former CAF appeals committee member stated, 'As a person who was on the appeals board for six years, I know it does not have the power to change the on-field decision of a referee.'
- Samir Sobha, a CAF exco member from Mauritius, called the decision 'a big joke' and said, 'We cannot correct a mistake by making another mistake.'
- The article referenced CAF’s 2019 decision to overturn a referee’s ruling in the CAF Champions League final, which was later upheld by CAS.
- The article noted that CAF’s decision contradicts the laws of the game, which state that a referee’s decision on match results is final.
- The article highlighted that CAF’s decision could be a defining moment for Patrice Motsepe’s five-year presidency, given prior controversies like the postponement of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
- Moussa Niakhaté, a Senegalese defender who played in the final, posted on Instagram, 'Come and get them,' with a picture of the Afcon trophy.
- The article mentioned that almost a million supporters lined the streets of Dakar to celebrate Senegal’s victory the day after the final.
- Abdoulaye Seydou Sow, secretary general of the Senegalese FA, described the ruling as a 'shame for Africa' and stated, 'We will not back down. Senegalese people should have no doubt. The truth is on Senegal’s side, the law is on Senegal’s side.'
- The article emphasized that CAF’s decision was based on 'absolutely nothing' and had 'no legal foundation.'
- Senegal’s government called for an 'independent international inquiry into allegations of corruption within the governing bodies of CAF.'
- The ABC article specifically noted that Senegal fans clashed with security during the final and that ball boys were caught taking a hand towel from the Senegalese goalkeeper during the match.
- The article mentioned that Morocco’s captain Achraf Hakimi received a two-match CAF ban for 'unsporting behavior,' while Ismael Saibari was suspended for three matches and fined $100,000.
- The ABC article detailed that Senegal’s Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were banned for two CAF matches for 'unprofessional behavior toward the referee.'
- The article stated that the suspensions only apply to official CAF matches, not the FIFA World Cup.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- Guardian Article 1 states the walk-off lasted 15 minutes, while ABC states it lasted 16 minutes.
- Guardian Article 1 mentions a Senegalese entrepreneur Pape Ousmane Ba making cynical comments about corruption, but ABC does not reference this individual.
- Guardian Article 2 claims the referee Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo 'failed to declare the game abandoned' when Senegal walked off, while Guardian Article 3 states Ndala 'restarted the match after the walk-off.'
- Guardian Article 1 and Article 3 both mention the Senegalese FA’s intention to appeal to CAS, but ABC does not mention this detail in the same explicit terms.
- Guardian Article 2 references a former CAF appeals committee member calling the decision 'disgraceful,' while Guardian Article 4 does not mention this individual or quote them.
Source Articles
Senegal calls for corruption investigation after Africa Cup of Nations Nations title stripped
The Senegalese Football Federation plans to appeal the decision that gave its Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco, with Senegal's government calling for an investigation into alleged corruption of African football's governing body.
‘Unjust and ridiculous’: Senegalese football fans bewildered by loss of Afcon title
Supporters of national side struggle to come to terms with decision to declare Morocco the winner of Africa Cup of Nations Two days after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) stripped Senegal of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and instead declared the host nation, Morocco, champions, Alhassan Hann remains in shock. “We didn’t expect this at all,” the 23-year-old Dakar university student said. “This decision is unjust. Personally, I find it ridiculous. I think it doesn’t give a very g
Senegal stripped of Africa Cup of Nations title over walkout protest in final
Morocco declared 3-0 winners after appeal is upheld Senegal’s players walked off pitch over penalty call Morocco have been awarded a 3-0 win in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations final after Senegal were sensationally stripped of the title in an unprecedented ruling. The Confederation of African Football announced on Tuesday evening that its appeal board had decided that Senegal are “declared to have forfeited the final” that was held in Rabat in January after the head coach, Pape Thiaw, and some
‘We will not back down’: Senegal vow to appeal after Africa Cup of Nations title stripped
Morocco awarded 3-0 final win after Senegal walk-off Senegal’s FA says ruling ‘a travesty’ and ‘shame for Africa’ The Senegalese football federation has described the decision to strip the country of January’s Africa Cup of Nations title as a “travesty” and said it will appeal to the court of arbitration for sport. On Tuesday Morocco were awarded a 3-0 win by the Confederation of African Football in an unprecedented ruling. Caf’s appeal board said Senegal were “declared to have forfeited the fin
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