Tue, January 20, 2026
Morocco to take legal action following the Africa Cup of Nations final
Morocco will take legal action following the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final on 18 January in Rabat, Morocco, where opponents Senegal left the pitch to protest a penalty awarded against them following a VAR review, but then returned to win the match 1-0 during extra time, securing their second AFCON title.
Morocco had the opportunity to win the Cup during the 98th minute, the last minute of the scheduled eight minutes stoppage time, following a VAR decision to award Morocco with a penalty due to a tug on the shoulder of its player Brahim Diaz by Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf. However, the Senegalese players left the pitch for around 14 minutes to protest the penalty, they were also angered by a disallowed goal minutes prior, and Diaz did not score the penalty once they returned and the match resumed.
Pape Thiaw, Senegal coach, stormed off the pitch with his players following after the penalty was awarded deep into stoppage time. Senegalese fans also tried to storm the pitch in protest. After the 98 minutes, with the score still being 0-0, extra time was played where Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored during the fourth minute.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation stated: “The Royal Moroccan Football Federation announces that it will pursue legal action with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA to rule on the walk-off of the Senegalese national team from the field during the final against the Moroccan national team, as well as on the events surrounding this decision, following the referee's awarding of a penalty that was deemed correct by all experts…
This situation had a significant impact on the normal course of the match and on the players' performance.”
Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, and CAF have already condemned the behaviour by the Senegalese players for walking off. Infantino voiced: “We also witnessed unacceptable scenes on the field and in the stands - we strongly condemn the behaviour of some ‘supporters’ as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff members…
It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner and, equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport, it is simply not right [fights between some of the Moroccan substitutes and their opposing players broke out] …
We must always respect the decisions taken by the match officials on and off the field of play. Teams must compete on the pitch and within the Laws of the Game, because anything less puts the very essence of football at risk.”
CAF is reportedly reviewing footage, and disciplinary proceedings are expected to follow. It stated that it: “condemns the unacceptable behaviour from some players and officials.”
Thiaw has since apologised, telling beIN Sports: “After reflecting on it, I made them come back [on the pitch] - you can react in the heat of the moment…
We accept the errors of the referee. We shouldn't have done it but it's done and now we present our apologies to football.”
The match was also chaotic due to Senegal’s second-choice goalkeeper, Yéhvann Diouf, having to constantly protect the towels used by starting keeper, Edouard Mendy, from numerous attempts by ball boys to snatch them. Diouf was chased and wrestled for the towels, as seen in video footage.
In footage from the stands, “Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi can be seen throwing one of Mendy’s towels over advertising boards. At another moment Morocco midfielder Ismaël Saibari tried to prevent Diouf from handing a towel to Mendy,” as reported by the Associated Press.
The several bizarre events which occurred during the final have most likely reflected badly on Morocco’s prospects as 2030 World Cup co-hosts alongside Spain and Portugal. Morocco hopes to host the final in the yet to be completed Hassan II Stadium, set to be the largest football stadium in the world with a capacity of 115,000 after its planned completion in 2028.
