The fallout from the explosive final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations continues to generate headlines. Abdoulaye Seydou Sow, the Secretary General of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), shed light on the tensions that marked the relationship between Senegal and the CAF Disciplinary Commission after the match. Morocco, for its part, did not hesitate to demand a win for themselves on a technicality.
To recap, Senegal clinched a 1-0 victory over Morocco in the final, but the match was overshadowed by a series of controversial refereeing decisions made by referee Jean-Jacques Ndala. A Senegalese goal was disallowed, and a highly disputed penalty was awarded to Morocco. The situation escalated with the temporary evacuation of Senegalese players and chaos in the stands, prompting the CAF to open a disciplinary procedure.
A sanction without questioning the title
In the end, individual sanctions were handed down: coach Pape Thiaw received a five-match suspension, while Ismaila Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye were each suspended for two matches. Additionally, the FSF must pay a fine of $615,000. However, Senegal’s victory was not called into question.
Morocco wasn’t ready to let it go
Speaking on the show Galaxie Sports on RTS on Monday, Abdoulaye Sow revealed that Morocco was not satisfied with the disciplinary sanctions imposed. “Morocco wanted to invoke the regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations, particularly articles 82 and 84, to claim a win on a technicality, regardless of the fact that Senegal returned to the field,” the official explained. Morocco even brought in four lawyers to support their case. Meanwhile, the FSF opted for a more measured defense, hiring just one lawyer, Maître Seydou Diagne, to explain the context of the events. “We did not deny the facts, but simply detailed the context,” Sow clarified.
The Disciplinary Commission, after review, rejected Morocco’s request, citing article 146 of the disciplinary regulations, which states that a technical defeat can only be applied to a team that does not start or finish a match. Since Senegal completed the entire final, the victory was confirmed.
A double victory for Senegal
For Senegal, this decision was seen as a “second victory.” The FSF chose not to appeal the sanctions, believing that the main thing was preserved: the trophy. However, Morocco may still consider an appeal, either to the CAF or to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
