"An Embarrassment" - Reo-Coker Slams CAF After Morocco Handed AFCON 2025 Title Following Senegal Walkoff

Posted : 18 March 2026

African football has been rocked by its most controversial ruling in recent memory. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially withdrawn Senegal's 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded it to Morocco following a ruling by its Appeals Board on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

The decision reverses the outcome of the final, which took place on January 18, 2026, in Rabat, where Senegal had originally claimed a 1-0 victory after extra time.

The chaos unfolded in the closing stages of the final when Senegal's players walked off the pitch in protest after a late penalty was awarded to Morocco. After several minutes away, Senegal's players returned and Brahim Diaz missed the spot kick; the game proceeded to extra time, where Senegal won 1-0.

CAF's Appeal Board upheld Morocco's protest and ruled that Senegal's conduct fell under Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON regulations, resulting in the forfeiture. The board ruled that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football breached Article 82 through the actions of its team, formally declaring Morocco winners.

The verdict awards Morocco its first African title since 1976 and denied Senegal its second, having also lifted the trophy in 2021.

The ruling drew immediate and fierce reaction. Former Premier League midfielder and CBS Sports pundit Nigel Reo-Coker did not hold back. "CAF is an embarrassment," he said. "I'm of African heritage, and I know about the Cup of Nations. I watched it as a kid growing up, and I know players who have played in it; World Class players.

There's always a stigma about Africa and its football. It's another reason why people will look down on this tournament. There's not one Morocco player, past or present, who would want to win in this manner. None of them will look in the mirror and be happy about being handed that. CAF have embarrassed themselves again in front of the world."

The Senegalese Football Federation described the ruling as one that "discredits African football" and confirmed it will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. A CAS process would typically take a year to deliver a verdict.

The decision has also disrupted Senegal's planned celebrations. The federation had lined up high-profile friendlies against Peru and Gambia in Paris and Dakar respectively. Tickets had already gone on sale, leaving organisers and supporters in limbo over how to proceed.

While Morocco were awarded the title, they were not entirely free of fault. CAF partially upheld sanctions against the federation for incidents involving ball boys, interference around the VAR review area, and laser devices in the stadium; though some penalties were reduced.

Both nations are set to feature at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the AFCON controversy casting a long shadow over African football heading into the global stage.

"An Embarrassment" - Reo-Coker Slams CAF After Morocco Handed AFCON 2025 Title Following Senegal Walkoff

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics