The CAF decision that sparked chaos in African football

The controversy in African football exploded after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced a ruling that completely changed the story of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The governing body determined that Senegal should be declared the loser by default, invalidating their victory in the final and awarding the championship to Morocco with an administrative 3–0 scoreline.

The ruling came months after the match played on January 18 in Rabat, where Senegal had won 1–0 in extra time following a final filled with tension. During stoppage time, Senegalese players temporarily left the field in protest after a penalty was awarded to Morocco — an incident that later became central to the disciplinary decision.

 CAF’s appeals committee concluded that the temporary abandonment of the pitch constituted a serious breach of tournament regulations. As a result, the victory earned on the field was invalidated and Morocco was officially declared the AFCON 2025 champion by administrative decision.

Senegal’s response: celebrating as if nothing had happened

The reaction from Senegal came quickly — and it was anything but quiet. Instead of immediately issuing a formal statement rejecting the ruling, the Senegalese Football Federation and the national team posted a video on social media that quickly began circulating around the world.

The clip, shared on the platform X, shows 33 seconds of massive celebrations across Senegal following the team’s victory in the tournament. The footage features players lifting the trophy, fans celebrating in the streets and scenes of nationwide euphoria that illustrate how the country experienced that triumph.

More than just a post, many interpreted the video as a direct message to CAF. The gesture appeared to make it clear that, for Senegalese supporters and players, the title won on the pitch still holds its legitimacy regardless of the decision taken in administrative offices.

Senegal’s streets speak: the title is still theirs

While the institutional debate intensifies, the popular reaction inside Senegal has been powerful. Dozens of fans took to the streets to celebrate as champions, ignoring CAF’s verdict and publicly showing their support for the national team.

Images of celebrations across several cities quickly spread on social media, where many supporters insisted that the true champion is the one who won on the field. For them, the extra-time goal that decided the final remains the only sporting truth.

This clash between the administrative ruling and the public perception has created a clear divide across African football. While Morocco celebrates the title officially awarded to them, in Senegal the dominant feeling is that the championship was taken away.

A public challenge that could escalate even further

The situation is far from over. The Senegalese Football Federation has not yet released a detailed official statement outlining the legal steps it may take, but many believe the case could escalate to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Meanwhile, the debate on social media continues to intensify. One of the most talked-about reactions came from midfielder Pathé Ciss, a player for Rayo Vallecano, who shared images showing the trophy and the celebrations following Senegal’s victory — a gesture many interpreted as a direct mockery of CAF’s ruling.

Such posts have divided opinions among fans and analysts. Some see them as a legitimate defense of the country’s sporting pride, while others believe they could further increase tensions with African football’s governing body.

WATCH beIN SPORTS XTRA LIVE FOR FREE ON YOUTUBE