 |
| Photo From Equipe du Senegal |
Less than 24 hours after Senegal lifted the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations trophy following a chaotic 1-0 extra-time win over hosts Morocco, the fallout continues to dominate headlines.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released a strong official statement today condemning the "unacceptable behaviour" displayed by some players and officials during the final. CAF said it "strongly condemns any inappropriate conduct directed at the refereeing team or match organisers" and confirmed it is reviewing all footage before referring the matter to its disciplinary committees for "appropriate action" against those involved. The statement follows the 15-minute delay caused by Senegal players briefly walking off the pitch in protest over a controversial late penalty awarded to Morocco.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who was present in the stadium and handed the trophy to the winners, did not hold back in his own reaction posted on Instagram today. He described the scenes as "completely unacceptable" and "shameful," stating clearly: "Violence and walking off the pitch like this have no place in football." Infantino added that what happened "must be condemned and will never be repeated," while calling on CAF's disciplinary bodies to take swift and appropriate measures. At the same time, he congratulated Senegal on their second title and praised Morocco for an "exceptional" organisation of the tournament seen as a major test ahead of the 2030 World Cup.
In a significant development, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announced it will formally lodge a legal complaint with both CAF and FIFA, arguing that the temporary walk-off seriously affected the flow of the match, player performance, and the overall integrity of the event.
Reports suggest CAF has already imposed a provisional suspension on Senegal coach Pape Thiaw for his role in directing the players off the field, with the length of the ban still to be determined. Additional sanctions could include heavy fines on the Senegalese federation (potentially up to $300,000), multi-match bans for technical staff (possibly 4 games or more), and official warnings.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui called the behaviour "shameful" and said it gave African football a "bad image in front of the world." Senegal coach Thiaw later apologised for his actions, while Sadio Mané who played a key part in convincing his teammates to return confirmed the final was his last appearance in the competition, ending as a champion.
Despite Pape Gueye's dramatic 94th-minute winner sealing the title for Senegal, this final will be remembered far more for the unprecedented chaos that surrounded it. All eyes are now on the upcoming disciplinary decisions, which could reshape the aftermath in the coming weeks.
