The Senegalese government has called for an independent international investigation into alleged corruption within the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following its controversial decision to strip Senegal of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and award it to Morocco.
The dispute stems from the AFCON final held in Rabat on January 18, where Senegal initially secured a 1-0 victory after extra time.
The match was marred by drama when Senegalese players briefly walked off the pitch in protest of a late penalty awarded to Morocco. After being persuaded to return by captain Sadio Mané, the penalty was missed, and Pape Gueye later scored the decisive goal.
However, in a dramatic reversal, CAF ruled in favour of Morocco after reviewing an appeal, citing regulations concerning players leaving the field of play. The governing body declared Senegal to have forfeited the match, awarding a 3-0 victory to the hosts.
Reacting to the decision, Senegal’s government described the ruling as “deeply unjust” and damaging to the credibility of African football’s governing authority. Government spokesperson Marie Rose Khady Fatou Faye stated that overturning a legitimately played and won match undermines trust in CAF’s processes.
She emphasized that Senegal “unequivocally rejects” the ruling and will pursue all legal avenues, including taking the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), to seek justice and restore the original result.
In a related move, the Secretary-General of the Senegalese Football Federation has formally requested CAF to suspend enforcement of the decision and halt any procedures to return the trophy to Morocco pending arbitration.
Meanwhile, the government also reiterated its concern for 18 Senegalese supporters detained in Morocco following unrest during the match. The fans were convicted on charges including violence against security personnel and property damage, receiving prison sentences ranging from three months to one year, along with fines.
