AFCON: CAF Strip Cup Off Senegal And Award Morocco… Heartbroken Sadio Mane Alleges Corruption
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has taken the unprecedented step of officially declaring Morocco the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), stripping Senegal of the title following a post-final ruling.
The decision comes after the dramatic scenes in Rabat where the Lions of Teranga walked off the pitch in protest at a late penalty given against them.
Senegal won the match with Pape Gueye netting the winner in extra-time, but the victory came in controversial circumstances after Senegal had walked off the pitch in protest during the original 90 minutes.
They were aggrieved by two decisions, the first of which saw Ismaila Sarr’s goal chalked off, before Morocco were awarded a penalty at the death after VAR intervention.
Senegal manager Pape Thiaw appeared to urge his side to leave the field, before they went down the tunnel and re-emerged around 15 minutes later, after which Morrocco’s Brahim Diaz missed the penalty to force extra-time.
On Tuesday, the Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) announced that, as a result, Senegal forfeited the game, rendering Morocco champions with a 3-0 win.
A statement read: “The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) Appeal Board decided today that in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 (“the Match”).
” With the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).”
Sadio Mane’s Statement:
“What happened has gone too far. This is not the football we fight for, nor the Africa we believe in.
“There is too much corruption in our game, and it’s killing the passion of millions of fans across the continent. Players give everything on the pitch, but decisions off it decide matches and trophies.
“I’m deeply disappointed not just for Senegal, but for African football as a whole. We deserve better. The fans deserve fairness, transparency, and respect.”
