The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has publicly condemned what it described as the unacceptable conduct of some players and officials during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Senegal and Morocco, warning that disciplinary action will follow after a review of match footage.
The condemnation follows a chaotic climax to the contest, which nearly came to an abrupt halt in stoppage time after the Senegalese team protested a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decision that awarded host nation Morocco a penalty. The incident occurred after Senegal centre-back Kalidou Diouf was adjudged to have pulled back Moroccan forward Brahim Díaz inside the penalty area.
The Senegalese team , led by head coach Pape Thiaw, vehemently protested the decision, describing it as biased officiating by referee Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo in favour of the host nation. The controversy compounded earlier grievances, including the referee’s decision to disallow a Senegalese goal in the 92nd minute. That goal was ruled out for a foul after Abdoulaye Seck was deemed to have pushed Moroccan captain Achraf Hakimi in the build-up to the play.
The penalty decision was revisited after Díaz protested forcefully, prompting the referee to consult the VAR monitor. The review sparked heated exchanges involving the Moroccan bench and the Senegalese technical team, culminating in Coach Thiaw briefly calling his players off the pitch in protest, a move widely criticised across the football community as contrary to the spirit of the game. Thiaw later issued an apology for the decision.
However, as tensions remained high, Sadio Mané, the Al Nassr forward, stayed on the pitch to engage match officials and persuade his teammates to return to play. His intervention has been widely praised by pundits, who cited his leadership and professionalism in urging Senegal to resume the match and pursue their slim hopes of denying Morocco their first AFCON title in 50 years.
The match eventually resumed, with Díaz missing the penalty after his attempted panenka was saved by Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, pushing the game into extra time. Senegal sealed victory through Pape Gueye, whose decisive strike silenced the largely Moroccan crowd inside the 68,000-capacity stadium.
Beyond the on-field disputes, clashes were also reported in the stands, with Senegalese supporters involved in confrontations near security barricades. CAF expressed particular concern over attacks directed at match officials and tournament organisers, stressing its determination to impose sanctions to restore discipline and protect the integrity of the continental showpiece.
CAF reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the dignity of African football, especially as the tournament continues to face criticism from European clubs and pundits over scheduling conflicts that affect domestic league competitions.
Source: Diplomatic Times
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