Two months after the intense final of the African Cup of Nations on January 18, 2026, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revoked Senegal’s victory and declared Morocco the official champion. The decision follows a controversial appeal filed by the Moroccan Football Federation, sparking immediate outrage from Senegal.

Senegal condemns “unfair” ruling

In an official statement released on March 17, 2026, CAF’s appeals jury ruled that Senegal’s national team was to be considered “forfeited” during the final, despite the Lions of Teranga having won 1-0 in extra time. The match result was retroactively adjusted to a 3-0 victory for Morocco. The Senegalese Football Federation denounced the decision as “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable,” vowing to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne within days. They argued that the ruling “discredits African football” and sets a dangerous precedent.

Social media erupts in protest

Outrage spread rapidly across social media platforms. Senegalese defender Moussa Niakhaté, playing for Olympique Lyonnais, posted a photo on Instagram holding the Africa Cup trophy with the caption: “Come and get it! They’ve lost their minds!” His teammates quickly followed suit, sharing similar images. The controversy stems from events during the final in Rabat, where Senegalese players temporarily walked off the pitch after a contentious refereeing decision. A contentious penalty awarded to Morocco in stoppage time led to a 15-minute delay as players returned amid chaotic scenes, including pitch invasions by Senegalese fans who threw objects onto the field. Moroccan winger Brahim Díaz ultimately missed the decisive penalty.

During extra time, Senegal scored through Pape Gueye to secure a 1-0 victory, but CAF’s appeals jury justified their decision based on Articles 82 and 84 of the African Cup of Nations regulations. These state that any team “refusing to play or leaving the field before the match’s official end” is considered to have forfeited the game and is eliminated from the competition.

A precedent in African football

The Moroccan Football Federation, in a statement, clarified that its appeal was not intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams but to ensure strict adherence to the competition’s regulations. A source close to the federation pointed to a 2019 precedent where Espérance Sportive de Tunis was declared champion of the CAF Champions League after Wydad Casablanca players abandoned the final pitch in protest of a VAR malfunction.

In late January 2026, CAF’s disciplinary jury imposed significant fines on both federations for unsportsmanlike conduct and violations of fair-play principles. Meanwhile, legal proceedings for 18 Senegalese supporters, arrested during the final for hooliganism and sentenced to between three months and one year in prison, have been postponed until March 30.