CAN Final Drama: Senegal Faces CAF Probe Amid World Cup-Style Controversy
28 January 2026
CAN Final Drama: Senegal's Day in the Dock
The Senegal Football Federation confirmed that an official delegation from its ranks underwent a disciplinary hearing before CAF's Disciplinary Committee on January 27, 2026, in the wake of the controversial events at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal.
The inquiry was launched based on match officials' reports and the objections raised by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation regarding certain Senegalese players' conduct during the game.
The session was attended by the federation's secretary-general, together with lawyer Sido Diagne, to present their legal arguments.
The French-language statement indicated that head coach Pape Thiaw and players Ismaïla Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye were heard and offered explanations and defenses.
The federation added that CAF's disciplinary body reserved the file for deliberation, with a final decision to be announced within 48 hours.
In the closing lines, the federation stressed its full respect for disciplinary procedures and the legal process within the continental body.
What happened in the CAN final?
The Senegal national team clinched the Africa Cup of Nations title for the second time, defeating the host nation Morocco 1-0 in a match that delivered dramatic moments late on and saw some Senegalese players leave the pitch in protest.
The match appeared headed for extra time, but minutes before the whistle the referee, Jean-Jacques Nadala, disallowed a Senegal goal for a foul on Achraf Hakimi and then, after a VAR review, awarded a Morocco penalty following a clear foul on Ibrahim Diaz.
Senegal's players and staff, led by coach Pape Thiaw, protested the decision, and some fans even spilled onto the field amid crowd trouble.
After the restart, Sadio Mane urged teammates to return and finish the game.
Diaz took the penalty but shot weakly down the middle, and Edouard Mendy saved easily.
The referee blew the whistle and the teams headed to extra time, where Senegal finally sealed the title with a goal from Papi Gaye in the 94th minute.
Morocco's federation called for sanctions against Senegal for the walkout and for the crowd trouble, and CAF continues its investigation before finalizing its decision.
Punchline 1: That final had more VAR checks than a mid-season exam—and somehow the trophy still didn't know what happened.
Punchline 2: If drama counted as fitness, this match would come with a personal trainer for every spectator.
