“Unfair, incomprehensible, unprecedented” — Senegal FA slams CAF over AFCON 2025 title stripping

President of the Senegalese Football Federation, Abdoulaye Fall, has launched a scathing attack on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after stripping the Teranga Lions off the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title.

The Teranga Lions’ AFCON 2025 success in the North African country was annulled on Tuesday night, with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) appeals jury awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory.

The CAF appeal board ruled that the Senegal team constituted a breach of the competition’s regulations. As a result, the Senegal FA was found to have infringed Article 82, leading to the forfeiture of the match under Article 84.

The decision stems from dramatic scenes during the final, when Senegal players walked off the pitch for over 17 minutes in protest against a late penalty awarded to Morocco.

Following Sadio Mane’s intervention, the Teranga Lions returned to the pitch for the continuation of the match and subsequently prevailed with a narrow win through Pape Gueye after Brahim Diaz had missed the penalty that had triggered the protest.

At a press conference on Thursday, Fall described CAF’s ruling as “unfair, unprecedented, and incomprehensible,” emphasizing that Senegal won the final match in Rabat on January 18 with a goal from Pape Gueye (1-0).

Fall argued that Senegal faced unequal and challenging conditions even before the match began. “We were administratively organized and anticipated everything after we qualified for the final. We faced the first problems with accommodation, as we were surprised that the hotel was not accredited and did not suit the level of the team,” Fall said. The Senegalese delegation had to submit official complaints to secure a more suitable hotel.

“The team’s arrival at the train station in Rabat was hampered by a lack of security measures, and there was significant friction with the players.” He also criticized the arrangements for training, revealing that Senegal refused to use the stadium allocated for the Atlas Lions and were initially asked to train at Morocco’s camp. “We cannot train at the opponent’s camp. We struggled until another place was allocated for us to train,” he said.

VIP ticket allocation for the final also sparked frustration. Fall stated that he was initially given only three VIP tickets for nearly 50 delegation members, forcing intervention from the Moroccan Football Federation president at 2 a.m. to resolve the issue. “We did not play the final in equal conditions,”

Fall further raised concerns about refereeing appointments, noting that the same referee officiated both the opening match and the final — a situation he described as unprecedented. “You saw how the match went: there were protests, a penalty kick was missed, and the match ended with Senegal winning after extra time. We received the medals, the cup, and the financial prize, and for us the matter is closed. No objection was registered during the match,” he emphasized.

Fall stressed Senegal’s legal position, stating that the title “cannot be lost legally.” Senegal has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with lawyers following up on proceedings and the Olympic Committee prepared to provide additional legal support if necessary. Fall also expressed solidarity with Senegalese fans detained in Morocco, highlighting that the fight extends beyond the pitch to public opinion.

Regarding the potential return of the trophy to Morocco, Fall remained diplomatic: “We will abide by the official decisions and regulations issued by CAF.” He also noted ongoing efforts to resolve potential visa issues for Senegalese fans traveling to the United States for the World Cup, confirming coordination with FIFA and U.S. authorities.

As the AFCON controversy rages on, Senegal’s football leadership and supporters remain defiant, united in the belief that the Lions of Teranga were wronged and determined to reclaim both justice and the trophy they earned on the field.