The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”), has condemned the “unacceptable behaviour of some players and officials” during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Final between Morocco and Senegal in Rabat on Sunday night.
The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Senegal and Morocco on Sunday turned farcical when Senegalese players nearly staged a walkout at the end of the injury-time in normal time after the home team was awarded a controversial penalty. They, however, returned to the pitch after Senegal star Sadio Mane stepped in and calmed down his teammates.
What followed next was more drama as Real Madrid winger Brahim Díaz fluffed the penalty with a ‘Panenka’ attempt and Pape Gueye eventually won the trophy for Senegal with a winner in the extra time. It is Senegal’s second Afcon win, and the first since 2021.
The tension and feeling of partiality spilled onto the pitch when El Hadji Malick Diouf challenged Diaz in the box, leading to Congolese match referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarding a penalty to Morocco at the end of the allotted eight added minutes following a VAR check.
Just as Ndala pointed to the spot, all hell broke loose. Senegalese players felt cheated, so close to the end of injury time in normal time. Had Diaz scored, Senegal would have had no time to make a comeback. Enraged by what he felt was a wrong decision, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw asked his players to stage a walkout.
The situation became so tense that police had to intervene to stop the Senegalese fans from entering the pitch. The fans were also seen throwing chairs and damaging stadium property.
Thankfully, better sense prevailed as former Liverpool attacker and one of Africa’s best players, Mane, decided to disobey Thiaw. Viral videos show Mane pleading with his teammates not to leave the pitch and continue playing the game.
The lone goal-scorer, Gueye, also spoke about Mane’s role in resuming the game after Senegal won the Afcon. “We had a feeling of injustice. Just before the penalty, we thought we should have had a goal, and the referee didn’t go to VAR. Sadio told us to come back on, and we remobilised. Edouard then made the save, we stayed focused, got the goal and won the game,” he said.
Later, Thiaw was also seen asking his players on the bench to return to the pitch. And it proved to be the right call as Edouard Mendy easily saved Brahim Díaz’s weak chip shot.
The penalty was taken in the 24th minute of the injury time. A long delay that distracted Díaz, claimed Morocco coach Walid Regragui.
“But that doesn’t excuse Brahim for the way he hit the penalty. He hit it like that and we have to accept it. We were one minute from being African champions. That’s football. It’s often cruel. We missed what for some was the opportunity of a lifetime,” he said.
Eventually, the fortune favoured the Senegalese as Gueye scored a screamer in the fourth minute of the added time to clinch the AFCON title for his country. Gueye ended a 5-year wait for Senegal with his sublime strike, but he would not have minded a little less drama.
However, a statement published on Monday 19th January, 2026 by the African football governing body, said: “CAF strongly condemns any inappropriate behaviour which occurs during matches, especially those targeting the refereeing team or match organizers.”
The statement continued: “CAF is reviewing all footage and will refer the matter to competent bodies for appropriate action to be taken against those found guilty.”
Morocco’s Regragui slammed Senegal’s coach after the final, accusing him of hurting Africa’s image. “The image we’ve given of Africa is shameful,” the Moroccan coach said.
“A coach who asks his players to leave the field … What Pape did does not honour Africa. He wasn’t classy. But he is a champion, so he can say whatever he wants.”
Thiaw also had a change of heart after winning the final as he apologised for his actions. “After thinking about it, I realised that I shouldn’t have asked them to go off. I apologise for that,” he said.
“Sometimes you can react in the heat of the moment. Before that, we scored a goal that was not given. But now we accept that referees do make mistakes and we apologise,” he added.
