The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) and national team captain Sadio Mané have both released official statements following the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 title and award it to Morocco.
In a shocking development announced on March 17, 2026, CAF overturned the result of the final played in Rabat, citing a breach of tournament regulations after Senegal players staged a protest walk-off during the match.
FSF rejects ruling
In a strongly worded statement, the FSF condemned the decision, describing it as “unjust, unprecedented, and unacceptable,” while confirming plans to challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
According to the federation, the match was fully completed and the result on the pitch should stand, arguing that their actions during the game were in the interest of fair play and properly managed by the team’s leadership.
Mané speaks out
Reacting publicly, Sadio Mané expressed deep disappointment over the decision, insisting that Senegal earned the trophy through performance on the field.
“We won that trophy with our sweat and our hearts on the pitch… To take it away in a boardroom months later is not football,” he said.
Mané, who played a key role in convincing his teammates to return to the pitch after the protest, described the ruling as damaging to the integrity of the competition and painful for the Senegalese people.
Background to the decision
CAF’s Appeals Committee ruled that Senegal’s temporary walk-off—reportedly in protest of a controversial penalty decision—constituted a violation of competition rules, leading to a forfeiture under the regulations.
As a result, the final has been recorded as a 3–0 victory for Morocco, with Senegal’s players also stripped of their winners’ medals.
What next?
The controversy has sparked widespread debate across African football, particularly around officiating and the use of VAR.
With Senegal preparing to take the case to CAS, the dispute is far from over, and further developments are expected in the coming days as both sides continue to defend their positions.
