Senegal players react after Morocco announced as AFCON winners
The decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 AFCON title has rocked world football.
A number of Senegal players have made their feelings clear after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturned their Africa Cup of Nations victory in an unprecedented ruling.
On Tuesday night, Morocco were declared the 2025 AFCON champions, 58 days after their dramatic 1-0 defeat to Senegal.
It was a controversial final, to say the least. In second-half stoppage time, Morocco received a contentious penalty after Brahim Diaz was adjudged to have been fouled by defender El Hadji Malick Diouf.
Moments later, Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw ordered his players to leave the pitch.
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Eventually, after around 16 minutes of waiting, captain Sadio Mane was able to convince his teammates to return for Morocco's penalty, which was saved by Edouard Mendy.
Senegal went on to win the match, but clearly, the lengthy protest from Senegal was badly received. On Tuesday evening, CAF overturned the final result and awarded a 3-0 victory to hosts Morocco.
READ MORE: CAF announce Morocco as 2025 Africa Cup of Nations champions in lengthy statement
Since the news was announced, a number of Senegal players have reacted on social media, including midfielder Habib Diarra, who plays his club football for Premier League side Sunderland.
Taking to his Instagram story, the 22-year-old posted three pictures of himself posing with the Africa Cup of Nations trophy, as well as a video from their seven-hour open-top bus parade through Dakar.
Pathe Ciss, who plays for Spanish side Rayo Vallecano, also reacted to the news. He posted a picture of himself posing with the AFCON trophy alongside five laughing face emojis.
Toulouse midfielder Pape Demba Diop gave his not-so-subtle take on the situation, too. He wrote on his Instagram story: "I think we're in a madhouse."
Moussa Niakhate, who plays his club football for Lyon, made his feelings clear on his socials. The defender posted three pictures, including one of him with the trophy, captioned: "This is not AI. This is real."
CAF announce Morocco as 2025 Africa Cup of Nations champions in lengthy statement
A statement from CAF was released on Tuesday night to confirm the news.
It read: "The CAF Appeal Board decided 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).
"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)."
The statement continued: "On the appeal by the FRMF regarding the application of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the CAF Appeal Board made the following rulings:
- The appeal lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) is declared admissible in form and the appeal is upheld.
- The CAF Disciplinary Board decision is set aside.
- The CAF Appeal Board further finds that the conduct of the Senegal team falls within the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.
- The protest lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) is upheld.
- It is declared that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), through the conduct of its team, infringed Article 82 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.
- In application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations, the Senegal team is declared to have forfeited the match, with the result recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).
- All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”
The CAF Appeal Board also ruled that:
- The appeal lodged in respect of Mr Ismaël Saibari (Player No. 11 of the Morocco National Team) is partially upheld.
- The CAF Appeal Board confirms the finding that Mr Ismaël Saibari (Player No. 11 of the Morocco National Team) committed misconduct in violation of Articles 82 and 83(1) of the CAF."
Disciplinary Code.
- The sanction imposed on Mr Ismaël Saibari (Player No. 11 of the Morocco National Team) is amended to a suspension of two (2) official CAF matches, of which one (1) match is suspended.
- The fine of USD 100,000 imposed on Mr Ismaël Saibari (Player No. 11 of the Morocco National Team) is set aside.
- The appeal lodged in respect of the ball boys incident is partially upheld.
- The CAF Appeal Board confirms the finding that the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) is responsible for the conduct of the ball boys during the aforementioned match.
- The fine imposed on the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) in respect of the ball boys incident is reduced to USD 50,000.
- The appeal lodged in respect of the interference around the OFR/VAR review area is dismissed.
- The fine of USD 100,000 imposed on the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) in respect of the interference around the OFR/VAR review area is confirmed.
- The appeal lodged in respect of the laser incident is partially upheld.
- The fine imposed on the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) in respect of the laser incident is reduced to USD 10,000.
- All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”
Topics: Senegal, Africa Cup Of Nations, Morocco
Jack Kenmare