Senegalese Government Accuses CAF of Corruption Following AFCON Decision
By Oudney Patsika the Chief Correspondent at at
Sona Headlines
Published: March 19, 2026 |
Case Study: Sports Integrity & Governance
THE TITLE STRIPPED. Senegal’s government has alleged corruption at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and called for an investigation after the governing body stripped the country of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title. In an unprecedented decision this week, CAF removed Senegal as continental champions – more than 50 days after the tournament’s final – and awarded the title to host nation Morocco.
The 17-Minute Walk-Off. In the final, the Senegalese beat Morocco 1-0 after they had walked off in protest against a controversial penalty which Brahim Diaz eventually didn’t convert. Play resumed in the final after a 17-minute delay, and Brahim Diaz's penalty for Morocco was saved and the game went to extra time, where Senegal's Pape Gueye scored the winner.
Following an appeal by the Moroccan Football Association (FRMF), CAF's appeal board overturned the result. CAF ruled that by walking off the pitch Senegal had forfeited the match, with the "result being recorded as 3-0 in favour" of Morocco.
Senegal Rejects "Dispossession"
The unprecedented decision to strip Senegal of the AFCON title has prompted a furious reaction from the Senegalese government, which demands an independent international investigation into what they deem an unjustified attempt at dispossession.
“Senegal unequivocally rejects this unjustified attempt at dispossession,” said a government statement. “By calling into question a result achieved at the end of a match that was properly played and won in accordance with the rules of the game, the CAF seriously undermines its own credibility.”
It follows the decision by the Senegal Football Federation (FSF) to appeal CAF’s ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In a statement, the FSF said: “The Senegalese Football Federation denounces this unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable decision, which casts a shadow over African football.”
“To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the federation will initiate an appeal as soon as possible before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.”
Denounce 'Abject' AFCON Decision
The decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title is "abject" and "we have to denounce it", a senior figure at African football's governing body has publicly declared, exposing severe internal rifts.
Augustin Senghor's Outrage
Augustin Senghor, a CAF executive committee member and former head of the Senegalese Football Federation, told BBC World Service's Newsday: "In a situation like this, we have to fight against injustice. Football is fair play, football is played is on the field, not in offices."
"In Violation of FIFA Laws"
"What happened with CAF was unacceptable," Senghor continued. "When you see a committee taking such a decision in violation of our rules, in violation of the Fifa laws of the game, to take the trophy and give it to Morocco, I think it is something very abject."
Allegations of Pressure
Senghor believes that the decision was made after pressure from the FRMF. "Senegal will fight because what happened is happening for the first time in the story of African football... I am sure that if we appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport then we will win and the trophy will never leave Senegal."
CAF and Morocco Stand Firm
Speaking on Wednesday, CAF president Dr. Patrice Motsepe released a video statement defending the decision of the appeals board. He said the incidents that took place during the final undermined work carried out regarding "integrity, respect, ethics, governance, as well as credibility of the results of our football matches".
“It is important that the decisions of our CAF disciplinary board, and the CAF appeals board, are viewed with the respect and integrity that is very important to us,” he added. “Not a single country in Africa will be treated in a manner which is more preferential or more advantageous or more favourable than any other.”
The Moroccan FA (FRMF) said it welcomed CAF’s decision. The FRMF said in a statement on Wednesday that the CAF verdict "upholds respect for rules that are necessary for the proper functioning of international competition".
It added: "This decision helps to clarify the framework applicable to similar situations in the future and contributes to the consistency and credibility of international competitions, particularly African football."
The Wider Fallout & World Cup Optics
Blaming Infantino
Former Cameroon, Ghana and Senegal coach Claude le Roy was critical of CAF and Gianni Infantino, president of world football's governing body FIFA. "For a long time with Caf, there is nobody of high quality driving this confederation and they are under control of Mr Infantino, and I think all problems are coming from there."
"They Killed the Spirit"
"Before this it was a fantastic Africa Cup of Nations, the most beautiful in the history of Afcon," le Roy told BBC Newsday. "We cannot understand this decision so long later. That means that they killed all the spirit of this so beautiful Afcon in Morocco."
Morocco are among six joint hosts of the 2030 World Cup, alongside Spain and Portugal, with special matches being held in Uruguay - to mark the centenary of hosting the first final in 1930 - plus Argentina and Paraguay.
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