Senegal stripped of CAN 2026 title after controversial final in Morocco

Two months after the African Cup of Nations final on January 18, 2026, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) revoked Senegal’s title and awarded it to Morocco. An appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport has been announced following the decision.

“An unjust decision” declares Senegal

In a statement released on March 17, 2026, CAF announced that the Senegal national team had been declared forfeit in the final—despite Senegal winning 1-0 after extra time. The result was officially adjusted to a 3-0 victory for Morocco. The Senegalese Football Federation condemned the decision as “unjust, unprecedented, and unacceptable,” vowing to appeal the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, “without delay.”

Social media erupts over decision

Social media exploded with reactions after the announcement. Senegal defender Moussa Niakhaté, playing for Olympique Lyonnais, shared a photo on Instagram holding the Africa Cup trophy with the caption: “Come and get them! They’ve lost their minds!” His teammates quickly followed suit. The chaos began during the final in Rabat when Senegalese players temporarily left the field in protest after an offside call denied them a goal, only for the referee to award Morocco a penalty in stoppage time.

After 15 minutes of confusion, Senegalese players returned to the pitch, but the chaos spilled into the stands as supporters threw objects and attempted to storm the field. Moroccan winger Brahim Díaz missed the decisive penalty during this tumultuous period.

Senegal later took the lead in extra time through Pape Gueye. CAF justified its decision based on Articles 82 and 84 of the African Cup of Nations regulations, which state that a team refusing to play or leaving the field before the match ends is considered to have forfeited the game.

A historic precedent

The Moroccan Football Federation responded by stating that its appeal was not about challenging the sporting performance of either team but rather about enforcing the tournament’s rules. A source close to the federation pointed to a 2019 precedent involving Espérance Sportive de Tunis, which was awarded the CAF Champions League title three months after Wydad Casablanca players left the field during the final in protest of a VAR malfunction. Despite upholding the final result, CAF imposed heavy fines on both federations for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Meanwhile, the trial of 18 Senegalese supporters, imprisoned since the final for “hooliganism” and facing sentences ranging from three months to one year, has been postponed to March 30.