Two months after Senegal’s victory in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has overturned the result, stripping the West African nation of the title and awarding it to Morocco.
The decision, delivered by Caf’s appeal board, follows an incident during the final in January 2026, where Senegalese players briefly walked off the pitch for about 10 minutes. Despite play later resuming and the match being completed, Caf ruled the action constituted a “withdrawal” under its regulations.
The governing body based its ruling on Articles 82 and 84 of the Afcon regulations, which fall under provisions addressing team withdrawals. According to the appeal panel, Senegal’s actions met the criteria for forfeiture, leading to Morocco being declared winners.
Sports law specialist Abdoulaye Sakho explained that the classification of Senegal’s actions was central to the case. While some observers described the incident as “match abandonment,” Caf instead defined it as a “withdrawal,” a distinction that determines which legal provisions apply.
“In law, especially in sports law, this distinction is crucial,” Sakho noted, likening it to a medical diagnosis where the wrong classification could lead to inappropriate consequences.
However, the ruling has raised questions, particularly because the referee chose to resume the match after the brief disruption. Under Law 5 of the International Football Association Board, the referee holds ultimate authority over match decisions, including whether to stop, suspend, or abandon play.
The law also states that decisions regarding match events and outcomes are final and must be respected.
Sakho described Caf’s reasoning as “puzzling,” highlighting that the referee did not abandon the match but instead allowed it to continue to completion. This factor, he suggested, makes the appeals board’s decision unusual.
The case is considered unprecedented at the Afcon final level. While football authorities have occasionally intervened in match outcomes, such actions are rare. One notable example cited is the replay of the South Africa vs Senegal match during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, after evidence emerged that the referee had been influenced by match-fixing.
Another comparable incident occurred during the 2019 Caf Champions League final between Wydad Casablanca and Espérance de Tunis, where Wydad refused to resume play after a controversial decision. In that case, the match was ultimately forfeited.
However, Sakho emphasised a key difference: Senegal returned to the pitch and completed their match.
The dispute is now set to move to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where Senegal’s football federation has filed an appeal. The federation is also seeking a suspension of Caf’s decision, which would allow Senegal to retain the title pending a final ruling.
The court is expected to review submissions from both parties before issuing a decision in the coming months.
The case is shaping up to be a landmark in sports law, raising complex questions around regulatory interpretation, the authority of referees, and governance within football’s administrative bodies.
TNAM
Edited By Egwu Patience Nnennaya
