Morocco has officially lodged complaints with African and global football authorities over incidents that marred the closing stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal.
The Moroccan Football Federation announced on Monday that it has submitted formal reports to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA regarding the conduct of Senegalese players and supporters during Sunday’s tense encounter in Rabat.
The controversy erupted deep into stoppage time of the match after the referee awarded Morocco a late penalty. The decision sparked furious reactions from the Senegalese team, who walked off the pitch in protest, forcing the game to be halted for almost 20 minutes.
The situation escalated further in the stands as some Senegalese fans reacted angrily, throwing chairs and other objects while attempting to invade the playing area.
In a statement, the Moroccan federation said the actions “had a significant impact on the normal course of the match and on the players’ performance”, noting that the disruption unsettled the game at a critical moment.
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Morocco went on to miss the contentious penalty kick, a setback that denied the Atlas Lions the chance to secure their first continental title in five decades.
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The federation revealed it has initiated legal steps over the incident, stressing that “it will resort to legal procedures” with CAF and FIFA “in order to rule on the withdrawal of the Senegalese national team from the field”… “as well as on the events that accompanied this decision”.
It also defended the referee’s decision to award the penalty, stating that it was “deemed correct by unanimous opinion of specialists”.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino weighed in on the controversy, condemning the behaviour witnessed during the final. He criticised “some Senegal players” for the “unacceptable scenes”.
After order was eventually restored, the match resumed following an appeal from Senegalese captain Sadio Mane, who urged his teammates to return to the field.
Senegal went on to score the decisive goal just four minutes into extra time to secure victory and lift the AFCON trophy.
However, the fallout from the chaotic episode continued on Monday, with several Moroccan media outlets accusing Senegal of poor sportsmanship and unsporting conduct.
With formal complaints now filed, football governing bodies are expected to review the matter and determine whether sanctions or further actions will be taken.
