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FOOTBALL SCANDAL DIRTY, CORRUPT, STINKING CAF, SENEGALESE HIT BACK ...
DIRTY, CORRUPT, STINKING CAF, SENEGALESE HIT BACK
Dakar • March 19, 2026
The Title Stripped. The Senegalese government has called for an “independent international investigation” into “suspected corruption” at CAF after it stripped the Lions of Teranga of the 2025 AFCON title and awarded it to Morocco.
A Match Marred by Protest. Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in January’s final but CAF overturned the result on Tuesday because the Teranga Lions walked off the pitch in protest when hosts Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty.
The players returned after a 17-minute delay, and Brahim Diaz’s ‘Panenka’ penalty for Morocco was saved before Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored an extra-time winner. Following an appeal by the Moroccan FA (FRMF), CAF ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match, with the “result being recorded as 3-0 in favour” of Morocco.
Government and FSF Hit Back
In a statement the Senegalese government said the “unprecedented and exceptionally serious decision” was based on “a manifestly erroneous interpretation of the regulations, leading to a grossly illegal and deeply unjust decision”.
Total Rejection
It said: “Senegal unequivocally rejects this unjustified attempt at dispossession.”
BBC Sport has contacted CAF, who are led by South African businessman Patrice Motsepe, for comment.
Heading to the Court of Arbitration
Earlier yesterday, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) said they would appeal against CAF’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), calling it “an unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision which brings discredit to African football”.
A Breach of Trust
“This decision is a breach of trust that is not based on any rule of law,” FSF secretary general Abdoulaye Seydou Sow told Senegalese TV channel RTS 1.
“We felt that the jury wasn’t there to uphold the law, but to carry out an order. We will stop at nothing. The law is on our side. The fight is far from over. Senegal will defend its rights to the very end.”
Players Refuse to Return Medals
Some Senegal players have suggested they will not relinquish their winners’ medals.
Idrissa Gueye Speaks Out
“We know what we experienced that evening in Rabat. And no-one can take that away from us,” Senegal and Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye said on social media.
FIFA's Stance and the Refereeing Controversy
The walk-off by Senegal prompted the International Football Association Board (Ifab), football’s lawmaking body, to open a consultation on how to deal with situations when “players unilaterally decide to leave the field of play, or team officials instigate such action, as a means of protest against a referee’s decision”.
Senegal’s players, apart from Sadio Mane, left the pitch after the award of a penalty for Morocco by referee Jean Jacques Ndala shortly after he had disallowed a goal by Ismaila Sarr at the other end. Ndala gave the penalty in the 98th minute after being advised by the video assistant referee (VAR) to consult the pitchside monitor and review defender El Hadji Malick Diouf’s challenge on Diaz.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said it was “unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner” and that the scenes “must be condemned and never repeated”.
Accusations of Favoritism
During the tournament there was much debate about refereeing decisions and VAR, with accusations from some journalists that Morocco were treated favourably by some officials.
Senegal complained before the final about how they had been treated and expressed “serious concerns” over security when they arrived in Rabat for the game. – BBC
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