The decision by AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) to take the Africa Cup of Nations away from Senegal and give it to Morocco has generated numerous reactions against it in the country.
Senegal were declared the losers of the trophy by a score of 3-0 due to the moment when the players left the field in the final stoppage time
“The Senegal national team lost by default the final of the African Cup of Nations (CAF) Morocco 2025, whose result was recorded as 3-0 in favor of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation,” reads the AFCON statement
Night of anger in Senegal after AFCON announcement to strip them of Africa Cup and give it to Morocco
A few minutes after the announcement, surprise turned to astonishment and then to anger.
Come and get them
“I’ll say crazy things if I talk,” declared one of Senegal’s starters in the Africa Cup of Nations final to ‘L’Equipe’ after hearing the news.
Behind all this, there are many shady deals, many behind-the-scenes agreements. I think this is not over yet, that Senegal will get what it deserves at the end of this story
Moussa Niakhate of Olympique Lyon posted a series of photos on social media showing him lifting the Africa Cup of Nations trophy with the message: “Come and get them” (referring to his medal and the cup)
“This is not AI, this is real,” he said.
We are outraged. There is a CAF (Confederation of African Football) Executive Committee meeting on March 29, it is going to be World War III
Pape Demba Diop, a Toulouse player and Senegal youth international, posted: “I think we are in the country of the crazy people”.
A source from the Senegalese Football Federation told L’Equipe that “we are outraged. There is a meeting of the CAF (Confederation of African Football) Executive Committee on March 29, it is going to be World War III”.Senegalese midfielder Habib Diarra reacted to CAF’s decision by posting pictures of himself with the trophy accompanied by many laughing emojis.
Claude Le Roy: “I have often spoken about Infantino, who thinks he is the Trump of African football”
Claude Le Roy, who was Senegal coach between 1990 and 1992,expressed his outrage at CAF’s decision to take the Africa Cup of Nations away from the Lions and give it to Morocco.
This decision, unfortunately for this continent that I love so much, will make the whole world of football laugh
“I would not have imagined for a second that CAF could go so far down this road of absurdity. When you see how CAF is run by Mr. Patrice Motseppe, who is a vassal of Gianni Infantino (the president of FIFA) and who from the beginning wanted to give this Cup to Morocco… Morocco had a great African Cup of Nations and deserved to win the tournament, but in the final, Senegal was better (1-0 in extra time),” said the 78-year-old coach.
Claude Le Roy, who won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1988 with Cameroon, accuses CAF of “ignoring all refereeing decisions. I have often spoken of Infantino, who thinks he is the Trump of African football, who thinks he has every right to run the final tournaments.”
“In Africa, he thinks he can get away with it. Behind all this, there are a lot of shady deals, a lot of behind-the-scenes deals. I think this is not over yet, that Senegal will get what it deserves at the end of this story. But it’s pathetic for the image that CAF projects. There will be an appeals committee and then, depending on the decision, CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) will step in. But I think this decision, unfortunately for this continent that I love so much, will make the whole world of football laugh,” he stressed.
Pathe Ciss mocks Morocco and poses with Africa Cup of Nations: “Give three more goals to the crybabies”
Pathe Ciss, Rayo Vallecano midfielder, has posted several photos of himself on social media posing with the medal and the Africa Cup of Nations title and a blunt message: “You can give three more goals to the crybabies”.
Senegal to appeal CAF decision to declare Morocco Women’s AFCON champions
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) will appeal the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Committee to award Senegal the final of the last Africa Cup of Nations and declare Morocco the winner, the body said.
In a statement, the FSF said it “denounces this unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision, which discredits African football.”
“In order to defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the federation will lodge an appeal as soon as possible with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne,” in Switzerland, the Senegalese football governing body stressed in response to the decision announced on Tuesday by CAF
Morocco’s moderate statement after winning Africa Cup of Nations
For its part, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) adopted a moderate official stance after it was announced that Morocco had won the Africa Cup of Nations.
“The FRMF wishes to reiterate that its approach was never intended to question the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but only to request the application of the regulations. The Federation reaffirms its commitment to respect for the rules, clarity of the competitive framework and the stability of African competitions,” it said in a statement.
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