Morocco to Challenge AFCON Final Outcome
Last update: January 19, 2026
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Football authorities are set to review chaotic scenes that disrupted the Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat.
Morocco has announced plans to file a formal legal complaint over the dramatic conclusion of the Africa Cup of Nations final, following protests by Senegalese players that briefly halted the match in Rabat.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation said it would approach both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA to seek clarification and possible sanctions over Senegal’s decision to walk off the pitch after a late penalty was awarded to the hosts.
The final, played on Sunday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, ended in controversy after a video assistant referee (VAR) review resulted in a penalty for Morocco deep into regulation time. Senegalese players protested the decision and left the field for several minutes before eventually returning.
Morocco missed the penalty after a lengthy delay, and Senegal went on to secure a 1–0 victory after extra time to lift the trophy.
In a statement, the Moroccan federation said the referee’s decision was technically correct and argued that the walk-off disrupted the flow of the game and negatively affected the performance of Moroccan players.
Football’s governing bodies have condemned the disorderly scenes. FIFA President Gianni Infantino criticised both the pitch invasion by fans and the actions of Senegal’s players and technical staff, stressing that match officials’ decisions must be respected.
CBI News reports that CAF also said it was reviewing video footage from the final and confirmed that disciplinary proceedings would follow, adding that such conduct undermines the integrity of the sport.
It remains unclear what specific remedy Morocco is seeking, though the complaint is expected to formally register its dissatisfaction with how the final was concluded.
