Rabat – The president of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), also serving as president of the Mauritian Football Federation, has publicly questioned the fairness of the 2025 CAN final against Morocco, alleging significant injustices occurred during the match and its surrounding circumstances. The official, whose name has not been widely reported in English-language media, issued a statement calling for forgiveness from the Moroccan Football Federation, asserting that Morocco was “flouted” during the competition.
“I would like to implore the Moroccan Football Federation to forgive us for the injustice that was done to them,” the FSF president stated, according to reports. “The rules were not respected as they should have been in this match… They were robbed. After the Senegalese team left the field, all players should have been cautioned with a yellow card.”
The comments refer to a prolonged stoppage of play during the final, which Senegal ultimately won 1-0 after extra time, marked by protests and incidents in the stands. The FSF president’s statement suggests a belief that the resumption of play after the Senegalese team temporarily left the pitch was handled improperly, potentially disadvantaging Morocco. Specifically, the official argued that a blanket yellow card issuance should have been applied to all players present on the field following the disruption.
The controversy extends beyond the on-field events. Prior to the final, the FSF had formally protested what it described as inadequate security arrangements for the Senegalese delegation upon arrival in Rabat, citing concerns about player safety. The FSF also requested accommodation in a five-star hotel to ensure optimal recovery conditions and refused to use the Mohammed VI Complex for training, arguing it constituted the Moroccan team’s home base and created an unfair competitive imbalance. These complaints were made on January 16th, two days before the final match, according to reports.
Following the final, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) issued sanctions against several individuals and both national federations. Senegal’s head coach, Pape Thiaw, received a five-match suspension and a $100,000 fine. Senegalese forwards Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were each suspended for two matches for “unsportsmanlike behavior towards the referee.” The Senegalese federation was collectively fined $615,000. Morocco also faced penalties, including suspensions for Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi (two matches) and Ismaël Saibari (three matches for attempting to take Mendy’s towel), as well as a $315,000 fine for the behavior of ball retrievers, players, and supporters using lasers.
As of February 20, 2026, eighteen Senegalese supporters remain detained in Rabat following the incidents that occurred during and after the CAN 2025 final. The Senegalese Football Federation has stated It’s closely monitoring the situation and working with Moroccan authorities to secure their release, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic and legal efforts to ensure the supporters’ rights and well-being. The FSF affirmed its commitment to providing legal assistance and advocating for a favorable outcome, citing the historical relationship between Senegal and Morocco.
The Moroccan Football Federation has not yet issued a public response to the recent statements from the Senegalese FSF president. CAF has also remained silent on the latest allegations of unfair treatment, and no further disciplinary proceedings have been announced.
