The Senegalese government has called for an “independent international investigation” into “suspected corruption” at African football’s governing body after it stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded it to Morocco.

Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in January’s final but the Confederation of African Football (Caf) overturned the result on Tuesday because Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in protest when hosts Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty.

The players returned after a 17-minute delay, and Brahim Diaz’s ‘Panenka’ penalty for Morocco was saved before Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored an extra-time winner.

Following an appeal by the Moroccan FA (FRMF), Caf ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match, with the “result being recorded as 3-0 in favour” of Morocco.

In a statement the Senegalese government said the “unprecedented and exceptionally serious decision” was based on “a manifestly erroneous interpretation of the regulations, leading to a grossly illegal and deeply unjust decision”.

It said: “Senegal unequivocally rejects this unjustified attempt at dispossession.”

BBC Sport has contacted Caf for comment.

Fight is far from over – Senegal FA chief

Earlier on Wednesday, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) said it would appeal against Caf’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), calling it “an unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision which brings discredit to African football”.

“This decision is a breach of trust that is not based on any rule of law,” FSF secretary general Abdoulaye Seydou Sow told Senegalese TV channel RTS 1.

“We felt that the jury wasn’t there to uphold the law, but to carry out an order.

“We will stop at nothing. The law is on our side. The fight is far from over. Senegal will defend its rights to the very end.”

Some Senegal players have suggested they will not relinquish their winners’ medals.

“We know what we experienced that evening in Rabat. And no-one can take that away from us,” Senegal and Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye said on social media.

The walk-off by Senegal prompted the International Football Association Board (Ifab), football’s lawmaking body, to open a consultation on how to deal with situations when “players unilaterally decide to leave the field of play, or team officials instigate such action, as a means of protest against a referee’s decision”.

Senegal’s players, apart from Sadio Mane, left the pitch after the award of a penalty for Morocco by referee Jean Jacques Ndala shortly after he had disallowed a goal by Ismaila Sarr at the other end.

Ndala gave the penalty in the 98th minute after being advised by the video assistant referee (VAR) to consult the pitchside monitor and review defender El Hadji Malick Diouf’s challenge on Diaz.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino said it was “unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner” and that the scenes “must be condemned and never repeated”.

During the tournament there was much debate about refereeing decisions and VAR, with accusations from some journalists that Morocco were treated favourably by some officials.

Senegal complained before the final about how they had been treated and expressed “serious concerns” over security when they arrived in Rabat for the game.

Afcon final chaos – key questions answered

In its ruling to award Morocco the title, Caf also “partially upheld” an appeal against an incident involving ball boys in the final, and reduced the Moroccan FA’s fine for the incident.

In torrential rain, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy regularly dried his gloves, but the ball boys repeatedly tried to discard his towel.

At one point Senegal reserve goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf was tackled to the ground by three ball boys and dragged around on the floor when he tried to intervene.

A fine for fans shining lasers at players on the pitch was also reduced by Caf.

Caf’s former head of disciplinary, Raymond Hack, questioned the decisions made by African football’s governing body and suggested there is a perception of “political interference” as “the president of the Moroccan Football Association [Fouzi Lekjaa] is the first vice-president of Caf”.

“The circus continues,” Hack told BBC World Service.

“A lot will depend on the referee’s written report, but the fact that the referee allowed the game to continue and they went into extra time gives the impression that he was satisfied that the game will continue.

“He is the only person who can call an end to the game. Not the authorities, not the governing bodies, only the referee.

“Otherwise you’re going to have situation worldwide where every time someone disagrees with a decision, they’re going to go on appeal or take it to court or something ridiculous like that.

“The game should be won on the field of play not in a boardroom.”

Hack, a lawyer and a member of Fifa’s disciplinary committee, said the Morocco players should have informed the referee they were playing under protest if they intended to challenge the result.

He also said It could take six months for Cas to rule on Senegal’s appeal.

Moroccan journalist Jalal Bounar told Newsday that Caf’s decision had been welcomed “with great excitement and joy across the country”.

“Morocco appealed the decision to the confederation of African football because they believed that Senegal had broken the rules during the match, and that's why Moroccans went out to celebrate,” he said.

“If they give it to Senegal, it won’t be the end of the world. We will accept because we are satisfied that we reached the final.”

However, north African journalist Maher Mezahi said such a sentiment is not matched across the continent.

“It does seem like the rest of Africa feels outraged by this because it seems like, once again, the Confederation of African Football has almost disgraced the sport,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Mezahi cited Caf’s decision to ban Togo from two Africa Cup of Nations for quitting the 2010 competition following a gun attack on their team bus in Angola two days before the tournament.

Referring back to Caf’s decision on the 2025 final, he said: “They have, unfortunately, come up with a habit of releasing decisions like this – whether it’s the disciplinary committee or the appeals board – that eventually do get shot down at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but it makes the entire thing look very amateurish.”

Previous walk-offs in football

While the sanction issued for the Senegal players leaving the pitch was unprecedented in global football, it was not the first time players had walked off the field in protest.

Czechoslovakia v Belgium (1920)

Czechoslovakia’s players abandoned their shot at gold at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics when they left the field 40 minutes into the final against Belgium in protest against English referee John Lewis, who had awarded the hosts a penalty and sent off Czechoslovakia left-back Karel Steiner.

Belgium were awarded the gold medal with Czechoslovakia disqualified from the competition entirely.

Lille v Manchester Utd (2007)

Ryan Giggs’ late free-kick for Manchester United, scored while Lille were still arranging their wall, led the Lille players to walk off in a Champions League last-16 tie.

Having gathered by the touchline, they eventually returned to complete the match.

Uefa fined Lille £42,000, which included a sanction for poor security and organisation at the stadium.

AC Milan v Pro Patria (2013)

AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng led his team-mates off the pitch after being racially abused by sections of the crowd during a friendly against Pro Patria.

Fifa applauded Boateng’s principles and made him the first member of its anti-discrimination taskforce, but said it did not condone his decision to walk off.

Paris St-Germain v Istanbul Basaksehir (2020)

Players from both sides left the field during a Champions League match after fourth official Sebastian Coltescu was alleged to have used a racist term towards Istanbul Basaksehir assistant coach Pierre Webo.

When Basaksehir refused to return, the match was abandoned and replayed the following day. Coltescu was suspended until the end of the season and ordered to attend an educational programme.

Fenerbahce v Galatasaray (2024)

Fenerbahce started an under-19 side and then walked off after one minute in the Turkish Super Cup against rivals Galatasaray after their request for the game to be postponed – because they had a Europa League quarter-final against Olympiacos four days later – was rejected.

Fenerbahce were fined 115,000 euros (£98,000) and Galatasaray awarded a 3-0 win.

Colombe Sportive du Sud v Panthere du Nde (2026)

In February champions Colombe Sportive du Sud walked off during the Cameroonian Super Cup against Panthere du Nde after the award of a controversial penalty and a red card for captain Randy Ntume in the 69th minute.

The match was abandoned and the final outcome is still to be determined by the Cameroonian football authorities. (BBC)

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