Moroccan and Senegalese football officials have publicly blamed refereeing and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions for their teams' shock exits from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-finals. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) filed an official complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following Morocco's 2-1 loss to Nigeria.
The FRMF's complaint specifically highlighted a disallowed goal for offside and a penalty not awarded after a VAR check. Similarly, the Senegalese Football Federation criticized the officiating in their 5-4 penalty shootout defeat to Mali, following a 0-0 draw, pointing to a controversial red card shown to defender Moussa Niakhaté.
CAF has acknowledged receipt of the formal complaints but has not issued any public statements regarding potential reviews of the incidents. The governing body typically stands by its match officials, making any retrospective action unlikely.
The early elimination of two pre-tournament favorites, Morocco and Senegal, has sparked significant debate about the consistency and application of VAR technology in African football. Both nations were considered strong contenders for the title after their performances in recent World Cups.
