National fury grows as Senegal media tear into CAF over AFCON 2025 title controversy

Anger continues to intensify in Senegal following the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) controversial decision to strip the national team of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco.

The ruling has sparked widespread outrage across the country, with strong reactions emerging from media outlets and football stakeholders.

Senegal had originally secured a 1-0 victory over Morocco after extra time in the final held on January 18. However, the match was overshadowed by a dramatic moment when the “Lions of Teranga” briefly left the pitch in protest of a late refereeing decision.

That incident later formed the basis of Morocco’s appeal, which CAF’s Appeals Committee accepted, ultimately awarding the match to Morocco with a 3-0 scoreline by default.

The decision has been met with disbelief in Senegal, particularly from the state-run broadcaster RTS, which delivered a scathing assessment of the situation. The channel described the ruling as “a dangerous precedent, because it puts into question the principle of prioritising decisions on the field, which is the cornerstone of any credible sporting competition.”

According to the same outlet, several experts went even further, labelling the decision a “shameful farce.”

They pointed to what they see as inconsistencies in the handling of the case, arguing that the outcome appears disconnected from the reality of what transpired during the match.

RTS also highlighted the broader emotional and national impact of the ruling, stating, “Aside from the trophy, it seems that an entire generation, years of hard work, and national pride have been destroyed by an administrative decision.

The sense of injustice is compounded because the players achieved this title thanks to their hard work against a top-class competitor.”

With tensions still high, the Senegalese Football Federation has confirmed its intention to challenge CAF’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.