Some football fans have insisted that they still recognise Senegal as the champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), despite the decision to award the title to Morocco after an appeal.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board ruled that Senegal breached Article 84 of the regulations, which prohibits staging a walk-off. As a result, Senegal were deemed to have forfeited the game, and the final result was nullified.
Applying the regulation, Morocco were declared champions with a 3-0 scoreline against Senegal as punishment for the temporary walk-off.
The decision has sparked immense backlash on social media, with football pundits, officials, and fans describing it as “shameful” and damaging to the image of African football.
Critics argue that match officials should have applied the rules immediately when the incident occurred, rather than allowing the CAF Appeal Board to overturn the result afterward.
Others questioned the authority of the Appeal Board to change a result once a game has ended, blaming CAF officials for the controversy.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has also faced criticisms for the controversies that have emerged during his presidency, ranging from AFCON disputes to challenges in club football, with many saying his administration has underperformed so far.