The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has launched a formal investigation into the riots that marred the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final match between Morocco and Senegal.
Morocco’s quest of ending their 50 year AFCON trophy drought dashed after succumbing to a 1-0 defeat to Senegal in a chaotic final, held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium on Sunday night.
Senegal coach, Pape Thiaw, sparked the controversy after ordering his players to walk off the pitch in protest against a penalty decision against his outfit, minutes after disallowing a goal for the Taranga Lions.
A section of the players adhered to the coach and left the field, leading to a several-minute stoppage amidst chaos.
But Sadio Mane demonstrated leadership, as he rallied his teammates to return to the pitch for the continuation of the match. Their return paid off, with Pape Gueye netting the match winner after Brahim Diaz had squandered a penalty kick.
The tension quickly spilled over into the stands, where Senegalese fans attempted to storm the pitch and clashed with security personnel, using chairs as weapons. The advertising boards were also vandalized.
Riot police intervened to restore order, and the Senegalese players returned to the field after intensive mediation, allowing the match to resume.
In a statement released on Monday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) condemned the “unacceptable” behavior of some players and officials, while announcing a thorught investigation into the match.
CAF will, however, review all recordings in preparation for referring the case to the relevant authorities for appropriate action, emphasizing its commitment to protecting the integrity of the game and the prestige of refereeing.
The CAF Disciplinary Committee is expected to issue its disciplinary decisions in the coming days.
