The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is expected to deliver its decision within the next 48 hours on the controversy that marred the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, following a disciplinary hearing involving the Senegal Football Federation (FSF).
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the FSF confirmed that its officials, including head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw, appeared before CAF’s Disciplinary Committee to respond to issues arising from the dramatic closing moments of the final between hosts Morocco and Senegal.
“The Senegalese Football Federation informs the national and international public that it appeared, on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, before the Disciplinary Jury of the Confederation of African Football,” the statement said.
According to the federation, the hearing was convened based on reports submitted by match officials, as well as a formal protest lodged by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation following the final of the tournament.
“This procedure follows the reports of the match officials and the objections filed by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation at the conclusion of the final of the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations,” the FSF explained.
The federation said it was represented by its Secretary General and received legal assistance from Maître Seydou Diagne. It added that head coach Pape Thiaw, along with players Ismaïla Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye, were questioned during the proceedings and presented their defence before the panel.
CAF’s Disciplinary Committee has since taken the matter under deliberation and is expected to communicate its decision within forty eight hours, a deadline set by the President of the Jury.
The controversy stems from the tense ending of the final, when several Senegal players left the pitch on the instruction of their head coach after referee Jean Jacques Ndala awarded a late penalty to Morocco in the 97th minute. The decision sparked protests from the Senegal camp, leading to a temporary walk off by players and a stoppage of play that lasted approximately 17 minutes.
The match eventually resumed, with Moroccan forward Brahim Diaz missing the disputed penalty. Footage from the incident showed confrontations between sections of the crowd and security personnel inside the stadium in Rabat.
In the immediate aftermath, CAF strongly condemned the scenes that unfolded during the final.
“CAF strongly condemns the unacceptable behaviour of some players and officials during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Final between Morocco and Senegal,” the governing body said, adding that disciplinary processes had been initiated.
CAF further stated that it was reviewing all available footage and would refer the matter to the appropriate bodies for action against anyone found culpable.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino also criticised the conduct of some Senegal players and officials, describing the scenes as unacceptable. In a statement shared on social media, he said leaving the field of play in protest and any form of violence had no place in football.
Following the incident, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation filed formal complaints with both CAF and FIFA, arguing that Senegal’s actions disrupted the natural flow of the match and affected the performance of players.
The Moroccan FA insisted that the referee’s penalty decision was correct and called for sanctions over the walk off by the Senegal team. According to reports by beIN Sports, Morocco is pushing for Senegal to be stripped of the AFCON trophy.
Despite the controversy, Senegal went on to win the final after Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal four minutes into extra time, securing the title amid one of the most contentious endings in the history of the competition.
CAF’s ruling, expected later this week, will determine whether any sanctions will be imposed and could have far reaching implications for both federations.
Investigative Journalist & News Editor:
Contact: Editor@wesleyannews.com
Source: Wesleyannews.com
Do you have a story to share? Send it to our editorial team at editor@wesleyannews.com