Senegal has called for an independent international investigation into alleged corruption after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) stripped the country of its Africa Cup of Nations title and retroactively awarded the victory to Morocco in a stunning reversal of the tournament’s final result. The dispute stems from the January 18 final in Rabat, where Senegalese players briefly walked off the pitch in protest after Morocco were awarded a stoppage‑time penalty. Although the team returned following intervention from captain Sadio Mané, and Morocco ultimately missed the spot‑kick before Pape Gueye scored in extra time to secure a 1‑0 win, CAF later ruled that the walk‑off constituted a forfeit.
On March 17, CAF announced that it had upheld Morocco’s appeal and would officially record the match as a 3‑0 victory for the host nation. The decision triggered immediate outrage in Dakar. Government spokeswoman Marie Rose Khady Fatou Faye condemned the ruling, accusing CAF of undermining its own legitimacy. She said Senegal “unequivocally rejects this unjustified attempt at dispossession,” describing the decision as “grossly illegal and profoundly unjust.” She confirmed that Senegal would take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 48 hours.
The secretary‑general of the Senegalese Football Federation has formally requested that CAF suspend enforcement of the ruling and halt any move to return the trophy to Morocco until arbitration is complete. The crisis has been further complicated by the detention of 18 Senegalese supporters in Morocco following unrest during the final. The fans were convicted in February on charges including violence against security forces and property damage, receiving prison sentences ranging from three months to one year, along with fines.
Senegal’s government reiterated its solidarity with the detained citizens and emphasized its commitment to pursuing both legal and diplomatic avenues to resolve the escalating dispute. Officials insist that the integrity of the competition, the rights of its supporters, and the credibility of African football governance are all at stake as the confrontation deepens.
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