CAF Shot Itself in the Foot: Senegal Walk-Off and the Misguided Reversal of the AFCON 2025 Final

The 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Senegal and Morocco delivered one of the most dramatic and controversial moments in African football history.

In the dying minutes of the match, Senegalese players, led by coach Pape Thiaw, walked off the pitch in protest, claiming that Congolese referee Ndala Ngambo had been unfair in awarding Morocco a late penalty.

The controversy escalated after the referee disallowed a Senegalese goal a minute earlier, ruling there had been a push by the Senegalese attacker, a decision that, upon review, fully complied with IFAB Laws of the Game.

After briefly leaving the field, Senegal returned to continue the match, allowing the penalty to be taken, which Morocco missed. Senegal later scored the winning goal in extra time through Papa Gueye, ultimately lifting the 2025 AFCON trophy.

Chaos, drama as Senegal clinch 2025 AFCON title

Divided Reactions: Emotions vs. Reason

The walk-off divided the football world:

Supporters of Senegal’s actions argued emotionally that Morocco had been favoured by referees throughout the tournament, citing earlier incidents, such as a missed penalty for Tanzania and controversial calls in the knockout match against Cameroon.

The technical football world, however, saw Senegal’s actions as bringing the game into disrepute, a serious offence in professional football, comparable to a “capital offence” in football terms.

CAF’s Article 84 clearly states that:

• Any team that violates Articles 82 and 83 (e.g., refusing to play, failing to show up, or leaving the pitch without referee authorization) shall be eliminated from the competition.
• The team shall lose the match by a 3–0 margin unless the opposing team had already scored more than 3 goals, in which case that score stands.
• Additional sanctions may be imposed by the Organizing Committee.

However, these sanctions are typically applied when a match is not completed. In this instance, Senegal completed 120 minutes on the pitch, technically justifying their victory. CAF’s decision to retroactively consider disqualification or to appear lenient effectively undermined its own disciplinary framework.

CAF slap heavy fines on Senegal, Morocco for AFCON 2025 final violence

CAF’s Light-Handed Sanctions

CAF imposed the following penalties:

Head Coach – Pape Bouna Thiaw

• Suspended: 5 CAF matches
• Fined: $100,000

Senegal Football Federation (FSF)

• $300,000 – misconduct of players and technical staff
• $300,000 – misconduct of supporters
• $15,000 – team misconduct (multiple cautions)

Senegal Players

• Iliman Ndiaye – 2-match suspension
• Ismaila Sarr – 2-match suspension

Many critics viewed these sanctions as insufficient. Former CAF Disciplinary Committee Chairman Raymond Hack remarked: “The incident was primarily caused by the Senegal coach, who took his players off the pitch and disrupted the match, bringing the game into disrepute. CAF’s sanctions were far too lenient; stronger action, including longer suspensions and heavier fines, was necessary to protect the integrity of the game.”

What CAF should have done

1. Awarding Senegal, the win on the pitch was correct, as the match concluded despite disruption.

2. Heavier sanctions for the coach, such as a five-year ban from all football activities, coupled with mandatory courses on management and anger control.

3. Suspending the Senegalese national team from international competition for a defined period (even risking their World Cup qualification) to enforce respect for the rules and the Laws of the Game.

Such decisive action would have sent a clear message that football must be respected and that violations of conduct will not be tolerated.

Broader Implications for African Football

Senegal’s behaviour and CAF’s response set a dangerous precedent. If teams adopt similar tactics, football matches risk not being completed, and disciplinary standards could be eroded.

IFAB’s forthcoming amendments address such incidents:

“Any team that walks off in protest of a referee’s decision will face strict disciplinary action, including possible match forfeiture, player and coach sanctions, and additional penalties, as part of a zero-tolerance approach to uphold respect for referees and the integrity of the game.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino reinforced this at the 140th IFAB Annual General Meeting (February 2026):

“We will not allow players or coaches to walk off the field because they disagree with a referee. The referee has to be respected.”

CAF’s light-handed ruling may embolden weaker football federations in Africa to exploit regulations to suit their interests, rather than applying the Laws of the Game fairly. In some African competitions, an estimated 60% of matches are decided off the field, as seen in Uganda’s FUFA-sanctioned replays, including ERA Bul FC vs SC Villa and Onduparaka FC vs KCCA FC, where referees are unfairly blamed for premature match endings.

While Senegal lifted the AFCON 2025 trophy, their walk-off and CAF’s leniency cast a shadow over African football. By failing to impose stricter sanctions, CAF not only undermined its authority but also risked normalising misconduct. Discipline, respect for referees, and adherence to the Laws of the Game must remain non-negotiable to protect the integrity of football in Africa and beyond.