We will decline to feature in AFCON if title is taken away – Senegal coach Pape Thiaw

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has firmly rejected the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to strip his team of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and award it to Morocco, insisting that the Lions of Teranga will not relinquish the trophy.

Speaking to the Tribuna network, Thiaw stated, “We will not return the cup, and we will not hand it over to Morocco, and the winning bonuses are our legitimate right,” warning that implementing the decision could lead to “major consequences.”

He added, “We worked hard for this title and deservedly won it, and if we are forced to do so, it may cost us our place on this continent.”

CAF had announced the title’s withdrawal two months after the tournament, citing a ruling from its Appeals Committee that overturned an earlier Disciplinary Committee decision which had declared Senegal the winners.

The Appeals Committee applied Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations, concluding that Senegal lost 3-0.

The controversy traces back to the final, where Senegalese players briefly walked off the pitch in protest over a last-minute penalty before returning to finish the match. The incident triggered a wave of disciplinary actions and a complex legal dispute.

Senegal’s football federation has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport to challenge the ruling and reclaim the title.

Meanwhile, CAF has imposed a five-match suspension on Thiaw, accusing him of encouraging players to leave the field during the final, marking one of the most tumultuous episodes in African football history.