Senegal football national team striker Sadio Mane has expressed disappointment after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday night, overturned the result of the AFCON 2025 final, awarding Morocco the title after Senegal walk-off.
In a statement on his social media, Mane said, “What happened has gone too far. This is not the football we fight for, not the Africa we believe in. There is too much corruption in our game, and it’s killing the passion of millions of fans across the continent. Players give everything on the pitch, but decisions off it are deciding matches and trophies.”
Announcing the decision in a statement released on Tuesday evening, CAF said Senegal breached Article 82 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations, triggering the application of Article 84.
“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 Total Energies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 (“the Match”), with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favor of the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).
Senegal had beaten Morocco 1-0 in the January 18 final, but the match was marred by controversy when Senegal’s players refused to continue after Morocco was awarded a stoppage-time penalty with the score level.
Play resumed after a 17-minute delay. Brahim Diaz’s penalty was saved before Pape Gueye scored the winner for Senegal in extra time.
Reacting to the verdict, the FSF on Wednesday issued a statement describing the ruling as an unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision that discredits African football.
The Senegalese football body argued that the appellant’s right to be heard had not been respected during the initial proceedings.
FSF declared that the association will appeal the ruling before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.
To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the Federation will initiate, as soon as possible, an appeal procedure before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.
The statement reads, “The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has today taken note of the notification of the decision rendered on March 17, 2026, by the Appeals Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), in the context of case DC23316.
“This procedure follows the complaint made during match no. 52nd Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), Morocco 2025, between Senegal and Morocco.
“With this decision, the CAF Appeals Board declared the appeal of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) admissible and accepted it.”
The statement added, “In doing so, the board overturned the decision rendered by the CAF Disciplinary Board
on the grounds that the appellant’s right to be heard had not been respected during the initial proceedings.
“The Appeals Committee also determined that the conduct of the Senegalese team fell under Articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations. Consequently, CAF declared that the FSF had violated Article 82 and awarded the match by forfeit to Senegal, with a recorded score of 3-0 in favour of the FRMF, in accordance with Article 84.”
“The Senegalese Football Federation denounces an unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision that discredits African football.
“To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the Federation will initiate, as soon as possible, an appeal procedure before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.
“The FSF reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the values of integrity and sporting justice and will keep the public informed of the follow-up to this matter,” the statement concluded.