Inside The Decision: Why Senegal Were Stripped Of AFCON Title

Last Updated:March 18, 2026, 08:40 IST

Senegal lost their Africa Cup of Nations title after a controversial final. CAF ruled Senegal forfeited, awarding Morocco a 3-0 win.

The Senegal football team were handed a massive disappointment after they were stripped of their Africa Cup of Nations title that they won in January by beating Morocco in a controversial final. Exactly two months after the triumph, their crown was snatched and handed to Morocco, thanks to AFCON regulations.

Multiple Senegalese footballers walked off the field in Rabat during the final on Sunday, January 18, in protest after the hosts were awarded a late penalty in second-half stoppage time.

After being persuaded back onto the field by skipper Sadio Mané, Senegal saw Morocco miss the penalty, before Pape Gueye struck in extra time to seal a 1-0 win for his team.

Why Senegal were stripped of AFCON title

The Confederation of African Football said that after reviewing Morocco’s appeal, “the Senegal national team is deemed to have forfeited the match," with the result recorded as a 3-0 victory in Morocco’s favour.

The CAF Appeals Committee cited Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON Regulations, which state that any team that “refuses to play or leaves the field before the match ends without the referee’s authorisation shall be deemed the loser and permanently eliminated from the competition."

The articles add that the team contravening the regulations “will lose its match by 3-0".

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation said in a statement that its appeal “was not intended to question the teams’ performances, but solely to ensure the proper enforcement of the competition’s regulations."

“The Federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, to the clarity of the competitive framework, and to the stability of African competitions," the statement said.

Senegal’s football authorities said that they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport “as soon as possible."

“The Senegalese Football Federation condemns this unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable decision, which brings African football into disrepute," it said in a statement.

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