Rabat – The Moroccan Football Federation said on Monday it has formally referred to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA incidents involving Senegalese players and supporters protesting a penalty to Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Senegal’s protest in added time of normal play during Sunday night’s clash in Rabat led to the match being paused for nearly 20 minutes as the players walked off the pitch in anger.
Some Senegalese fans at the opposite end of the stadium threw chairs and other objects and attempted to get onto the field of play.
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🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: The Moroccan national team has announced in an official statement that they will take LEGAL ACTION against CAF and FIFA.
The reason is Senegal’s threat to withdraw, as they believe it disadvantaged Brahim Díaz when he took the penalty kick. pic.twitter.com/Osq2NnPt5g
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) January 19, 2026
The AFCON hosts’ football federation said these acts “had a significant impact on the normal course of the match and on the players’ performance”, with Morocco then missing the penalty that could have granted them their first African title in 50 years.
The federation said “it will resort to legal procedures” with CAF, the tournament’s organising body, 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 said the referee’s decision to grant the Atlas Lions a penalty was “deemed correct by unanimous opinion of specialists”.
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🚨🇲🇦 Morocco says it will take legal action with CAF and FIFA to address the withdrawal of Senegal players in the #AFCON2025 final which they say affected the normal course of the match and player’s performance.
Morocco is banking on Chapter 35 (article 82 and 82) of the AFCON… pic.twitter.com/jnZAF35FPG
— Eric Njiru- #AFCON2025⚽️ (@EricNjiiru) January 19, 2026
FIFA president Gianni Infantino condemned “some Senegal players” for the “unacceptable scenes”.
Senegal scored the game’s only goal just four minutes into extra time after the players returned to the pitch following an appeal from star forward Sadio Mane.
Several Moroccan media outlets on Monday criticised Senegal for a lack of fair play and unsporting behaviour.
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Source: AFP
