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Following the controversial final between Morocco and Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz in Rabat Missed and Panenka penalties After winning the game in the 114th minute, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) immediately filed a complaint with the Spanish Football Association and FIFA, saying that Senegal’s departure “greatly affected the normal conduct of the game and the morale of the players.”
The Cafe Disciplinary Committee initially dismissed the appeal and instead impose sanctions on both parties, This includes a five-game ban on Senegal coach Pape Thiaw on January 29.
The FRMF said these initial penalties did not “reflect the seriousness of the incident”, and the Caf Appeal Board agreed, issuing a statement on March 17 saying Senegal had breached Articles 82 and 84 of the competition regulation.
Article 82 stipulates that if a team “leaves the field before the end of regular play without the referee’s permission,” the team is eliminated.
The Senegalese government responded by calling for an investigation into the matter “suspected of corruption” In the cafe, the claim was roundly rejected by governing body chairman Patrice Motsepe, who has been at pains to point out the independence of the appeals committee.
“It is important that the decisions of our Café Disciplinary Committee and Appeal Committee are treated with respect and integrity,” he said.
The final decision on who will win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations now rests with Cass, the sport’s highest judicial body.
“To wage this ethical and legal fight, we have appointed a team of experienced professionals with undeniable expertise,” Fall announced in Paris, flanked by members of the FSF’s legal team.
One of the lawyers, Seydou Diagne, called the decision to strip Senegal of the title “so blatant, so ridiculous, so unreasonable.”
“The decision of the appeal jury cannot even be considered a real decision of sporting justice,” he added.
“This is an unacceptable and intolerable attack on the fundamental rights of our national football association.”
Lawyer Juan Perez said: “A match that has already ended, the result of which was decided by the referee, and now comes back to an administrative referee – this is unprecedented. You have never seen anything like this. It could change the world of football.”
Caf recently updated its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations review on its website to list Morocco as the winners, although the page now appears to have been removed.
With Senegal refusing to relinquish the trophy and Saturday’s planned parade demonstrating their disdain, the fight to be crowned African champions is far from over.
