Morocco petitions CAF, FIFA over Senegal’s protest during AFCON final

The Morrocan Football Federation has formally reported Senegal to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA over incidents that disrupted the Africa Cup of Nations final, following protests by Senegalese players and supporters against a late penalty awarded to Morocco.

In a statement issued on Monday, the federation said the events occurred during stoppage time of Sunday night’s final in Rabat, when Senegalese players walked off the pitch in protest after the referee awarded Morocco a penalty. The protest forced the match to be suspended for nearly 20 minutes.

The situation was compounded by unrest in the stands, as some Senegalese supporters reportedly threw chairs and other objects and attempted to gain access to the field of play, further heightening tensions inside the stadium.

Morocco’s football authorities said the incidents “significantly affected the normal course of the match and the performance of the players.”

The hosts went on to miss the penalty, a moment that could have secured Morocco’s first continental title in half a century.

According to the federation, it has decided to pursue formal legal procedures with CAF, which organised the tournament, and FIFA, seeking rulings on the Senegalese team’s withdrawal from the pitch and the accompanying disturbances.

The Moroccan FA also maintained that the referee’s decision to award the penalty to the Atlas Lions was correct, stating that it had been validated by a “unanimous opinion of specialists.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has since condemned the actions of some Senegalese players, describing the scenes as unacceptable and warning that such conduct has no place in football.

Senegal went on to score the decisive goal just four minutes into extra time, sealing a 1-0 victory after team captain Sadio Mane persuaded his teammates to return to the field.

The incidents sparked widespread debate in Morocco, with several local media outlets on Monday criticising Senegal for what they described as a lack of sportsmanship and fair play during the high-stakes final.