Senegal’s victory in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against hosts Morocco has been clouded by legal threats and disciplinary scrutiny after the team temporarily walked off the pitch in protest at a controversial late penalty decision. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has declared its intention to pursue legal action with both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA, arguing that Senegal’s action affected the normal course of the match, and CAF has launched a disciplinary review that could lead to sanctions against players and officials.
The final in Rabat saw tensions escalate deep into injury time when a VAR review resulted in a penalty award to Morocco, prompting Senegal’s coach, Pape Thiaw, to lead his players off the field in protest amid widespread dissatisfaction with officiating. After a delay of around 14–16 minutes, play resumed and Morocco’s Brahim Díaz missed the penalty, with Senegal going on to clinch a 1–0 win in extra time through a goal by Pape Gueye.
CAF and FIFA have both publicly condemned the scenes, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino characterising the conduct of players and staff as unacceptable and underscoring the necessity to respect match officials’ decisions. CAF has said it will review all available footage and refer the matter to competent disciplinary bodies for appropriate action, with focus on those individuals who left the pitch during the final.
Morocco’s move to seek legal recourse reflects broader frustrations among officials and commentators that the protest disrupted the integrity of the showpiece event. The complaint is formally directed at CAF and FIFA to adjudicate on the consequences of the walk-off, with Moroccan authorities asserting that the sequence of events materially impacted performance and momentum.
