Senegal Demands Investigation Into ‘Corrupt’ AFCON 2025 Ruling
The Senegalese government has called for an independent international investigation into what it describes as ‘suspected corruption’ within African football’s governing body, after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded it to Morocco.
Senegal had beaten Morocco 1-0 in January’s final in Rabat, but CAF overturned the result on Tuesday, ruling that Senegal forfeited the match when its players walked off the pitch in protest at a stoppage-time penalty awarded to the hosts.
After a 17-minute delay, the players returned, Morocco’s Brahim Diaz saw his penalty saved, and Pape Gueye scored the eventual winner in extra time.
Following an appeal by the Moroccan Football Federation, CAF declared the match a 3-0 victory for Morocco. Senegal’s government condemned the ruling as ‘grossly illegal and deeply unjust,’ rejecting what it called ‘an unjustified attempt at dispossession.’
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has vowed to challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
FSF secretary general Abdoulaye Seydou Sow described the ruling as ‘unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable,’ adding that Senegal would ‘stop at nothing’ to defend its rights.
