The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has announced plans to seek intervention from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) following Senegal’s controversial walk‑off during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 final.
In a statement on its official X account, the Moroccan federation said the Senegal national team’s decision to leave the pitch in protest against a late referee decision interrupted the normal flow of play and affected the performance of both sides.
The federation said it will pursue legal action through CAF and FIFA’s disciplinary and legal processes.
The walk‑off occurred late in the match after a Video Assistant Referee review awarded Morocco a penalty kick, a decision the Moroccan federation noted was upheld by football experts.
— FRMF (@FRMFOFFICIEL) January 19, 2026
Royal Moroccan Football Federation's X post
Senegal’s head coach then led his players off the field in protest, prompting chaos before play eventually resumed.
Senegal went on to win the match 1‑0 after extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal.
However, the post‑final turmoil has continued to dominate headlines, with CAF reviewing footage of the incident and FIFA also condemning aspects of the behaviour shown at the end of the game.
CAF has confirmed it is examining all events from the final and may refer matters to its disciplinary bodies, while FIFA President Gianni Infantino has criticised the decision to walk off as unacceptable and harmful to the integrity of the sport.
The Morocco football body also took the opportunity to thank fans for their support throughout the tournament and expressed appreciation to organisers and security personnel for their efforts during the competition.
