The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed sanctions on the Senegalese Football Federation following the team's walk-off during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final. The incident occurred in protest of a refereeing decision during the match against Morocco, which was played on February 9, 2025, in Rabat.
According to official CAF statements, the sanctions include a fine and a requirement for the federation to issue a formal apology. The governing body cited violations of the competition regulations and the principles of fair play. The match was ultimately awarded to Morocco after Senegal refused to return to the pitch.
Senegalese football figure Pape Thiaw, a former international, has been vocal in his criticism of the decision, framing the team's actions as a stand for sporting integrity. The sanctions have reignited debates about refereeing standards and protest mechanisms in African football.
The 2025 CAN final controversy marks a significant disciplinary episode, with CAF emphasizing the need to uphold the competition's statutes. Further appeals or actions from the Senegalese federation are pending as of late March 2026.
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