Months after the controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, new revelations continue to emerge, uncovering the tumultuous events leading up to and during the match. Allegations of non-compliance by the Senegalese team, strategic tensions, and a dramatic protest on the pitch have culminated in a contentious ruling by CAF's Appeals Committee, setting the stage for a decisive showdown at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. DR ‹ › Nearly three months after the curtain fell on the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the hidden aspects of this controversial match continue to unfold. New information is emerging, shedding light on the events that preceded and accompanied the final, which captivated thousands in the stadium and millions of viewers. The scenes witnessed during the match were only part of a broader story. Media reports, including one by the Spanish newspaper AS, indicate that tensions had already begun to surface days before kickoff. According to the same source, the Senegalese team did not comply with several organizational recommendations issued by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), both before and during the match. The newspaper suggests that many of the protests raised by the Senegalese side throughout the tournament lose credibility when examined in light of behind-the-scenes developments. Early signs of tension reportedly emerged, with certain issues being deliberately amplified ahead of the final. The «Lions of Teranga» delegation had been warned about potential crowd congestion during their transfer from Tangier to Rabat by train, and alternative logistical arrangements were proposed to avoid confusion. However, the Senegalese Football Federation published detailed information about the team's arrival on its official platforms, prompting large crowds to gather at the train station. Despite prior warnings, recommendations from organizing bodies, including Moroccan security authorities, were reportedly ignored, in what AS described as a «deliberate» move aimed at generating public sympathy. Tensions also extended to complaints about accommodation and training facilities. CAF had assigned the Mohammed VI Football Complex to the Senegalese team, a modern facility with advanced infrastructure that also served as Morocco's training base during the tournament. Senegalese officials, however, raised concerns about a «potential for espionage» and a «lack of tactical secrecy». These claims appear unfounded, given that the complex includes no fewer than 14 pitches and multiple facilities allowing teams to train independently. Previous experiences during the tournament, including Cameroon sharing the same complex with Morocco, did not result in any issues, and their quarter-final proceeded without incident. Creating tensions ahead of the final In the lead-up to kickoff, further signs of tension emerged. The Senegalese coach attempted to introduce a political dimension by referencing strained relations between Morocco and Algeria. During a pre-match press conference, he praised the organization of the CHAN tournament in Algeria, a remark widely seen as an attempt to provoke the Moroccan side. On the eve of the final, the Senegalese federation submitted an official protest to CAF, requesting the replacement of referee Jean-Jacques Ngambo Ndala and his officiating team. The request was rejected. These developments foreshadowed the dramatic turn of events during the match. In stoppage time, specifically in the 97th minute, Senegalese players left the pitch in protest over a penalty awarded to Morocco, heading to the locker rooms in a shocking scene. Some players even live-streamed the incident on social media, while organizers attempted to contain the situation through measures that also sparked controversy. In this context, Le Monde reported that CAF's head of refereeing, Olivier Safran, acknowledged that «institutional» instructions had been issued during the stoppage, notably advising against showing yellow cards to Senegalese players upon their return, even though such sanctions could have led to expulsions and influenced the outcome of the match. Post-match reports also revealed discrepancies among CAF officials. Referee Ngambo Ndala stated that «in the 97th minute, play was temporarily halted» following protests, adding that players «headed to the locker room on their coach's instructions». By contrast, the match's general coordinator, Tunisian official Khaled Lemkacher, described «intense protests» that escalated after the penalty decision, confirming that players left the field. He noted that only Sadio Mané remained on the pitch before asking staff members to urge teammates to return. Meanwhile, match commissioner Ahmed Osman reported that tensions were not limited to one side, noting that «officials and substitutes from both teams attempted to engage in a scuffle». The Appeals Committee's interpretation Following CAF's Disciplinary Committee decision, Morocco filed an appeal. According to Medias 24, the Appeals Committee based its ruling on Article 82 of the competition regulations, concluding that the Senegalese team's actions constituted a withdrawal. The article stipulates that «if a team withdraws, refuses to play, or leaves the field without the referee's authorization, it is considered to have lost and is disqualified from the competition». The committee ruled that leaving the pitch in the 97th minute met the criteria for withdrawal. In response to Senegal's argument that play had resumed, the committee emphasized that the referee's authority does not override disciplinary jurisdiction, stating that «resuming play does not erase the legal consequences of the infraction». The committee also dismissed the argument that Morocco did not lodge an immediate protest, clarifying that «continuing to play cannot be interpreted as a waiver of rights». Comparisons with previous cases were also rejected, as they involved «significantly different circumstances» and could not be used as precedent. Based on this reasoning, the committee concluded that Senegal's withdrawal resulted in a forfeit, confirming Morocco's victory by default (3–0), given the match was level at 0–0 when play was halted. The decision was adopted by a majority of four votes to one. The case is now expected to be brought before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which will deliver a final ruling in the coming weeks in what is already considered one of the most controversial finals in African football history.
