Afcon final fiasco continues as Morocco pursues legal action

Morocco's national football federation is to pursue legal action following the chaotic end of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final against Senegal on Sunday.

The legal complaint, announced Monday, follows a controversial move by the Senegal team to walk off the field after host Morocco were awarded a penalty in the eighth minute of stoppage time following a video assistant referee (VAR) review, only seconds after Senegal had a goal ruled out. 

The game eventually resumed 16 minutes later after Senegal’s left-winger Sadio Mane brought the team back onto the pitch. Morocco's Brahim Diaz missed the penalty and Senegal clinched the Afcon title 1-0 in extra time.

“The Royal Moroccan Football Federation announces that it will pursue legal action with the Confederation of African Football 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,” the body said in a statement.

“These events had a significant impact on the normal course of the match and on the players' performance,” it continued. 

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) said that it is “reviewing all footage and will refer the matter to competent bodies for appropriate action to be taken against those found guilty".

Senegal’s head coach, Pape Thiaw, who led the team off the pitch and is now at risk of being sanctioned, was expected to explain his decision at the post-match press conference but left before he could field any questions after he was jeered and booed by Moroccan journalists when he entered the room. 

Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui, accused Thiaw of bringing “shame” to African football. 

“A coach who asks his players to leave the field… What Pape did does not honour Africa,” Regragui said.

In response to the fiasco, Senegal’s Pape Gueye, who scored the winning goal, accused the referee of injustice.

“What we felt was injustice. There had been a foul for us and the referee chose not to look at the VAR,” he said, trying to explain the walk-off. 

“We were frustrated, but Sadio [Mane] told us to come back on the pitch to remobilise us,” he added.

Online support

Online, many people expressed frustration at Fifa and Caf.

While some people accused Senegal players of displaying poor sportsmanship, many other social media users said they supported Senegal's walk-off, accusing the bodies of bias and injustice.

Sadio Mané is the hero of this AFCON final. Not just for what he did with the ball, but for the maturity he showed in what felt like an open festival of bias against clubs facing the host country. Had Senegal insisted on boycotting the match, a ban would almost certainly have… pic.twitter.com/nY8GP3qX34

— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) January 18, 2026

“Senegal just pulled the most technical/reverse psychology AFCON final of all time,” one user wrote on X.

“And yes, that's exactly how you beat corruption and thieves,” he added.

Another said: “People are saying Senegal have set African football back 10 years. I disagree. I think they have REVOLUTIONISED the sport.” 

Senegal just pulled the most technical/reverse psychology AFCON final of all time. This should be studied. And yes, that's exactly how you beat corruption and thieves.

— Geronimo Morgans (@GeronimoMorgans) January 18, 2026

Frustrations also grew following video footage that later emerged showing the host’s ball boys removing Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy’s towel, used to cope with the wet weather conditions, throughout the match. 

One clip even appeared to show Morocco's captain and Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi throwing one of Senegal's towels over an advertising board.

On Monday, Fifa President Gianni Infantino condemned the walk-off by Senegal players and members of the coaching staff after the chaotic scenes.

“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,” he said.