Morocco’s football authorities are preparing to pursue formal legal action following their dramatic defeat to Senegal in the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations final, arguing that a mid-match walk-off by Senegalese players disrupted the game and materially influenced the outcome.
Senegal clinched a 1–0 victory over the Atlas Lions at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, securing a second continental title courtesy of a stoppage-time goal from Papa Gueye. However, the closing stages of the final were overshadowed by a sequence of events that has since triggered sharp reactions from Morocco, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and FIFA.
The flashpoint came late in regulation time when the referee awarded Morocco a penalty following a VAR review. Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf was adjudged to have pulled Brahim Díaz during a corner kick. The decision, while upheld by VAR and later described by several refereeing analysts as technically correct, was perceived by the Senegal camp as excessively harsh given the physical nature of set-piece defending.
In protest, a number of Senegalese players left the pitch on the instructions of head coach Pape Thiaw, leading to an unscheduled stoppage of approximately 15 minutes. The players eventually returned after intervention from match officials and tournament organisers, but the delay had already intensified tensions inside a packed stadium dominated by Moroccan supporters.
When play resumed, Díaz stepped up to take the penalty in what was arguably the defining moment of the final. The Real Madrid forward attempted a Panenka-style kick, which was comfortably saved, drawing gasps across the stadium. Moments later, Senegal capitalised at the other end, with Papa Gueye scoring deep into added time to silence the home crowd and hand Senegal the trophy.
In a statement released on Monday, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said it would formally petition both CAF and FIFA to review the circumstances surrounding Senegal’s temporary walk-off. The federation argued that the interruption disrupted the psychological rhythm of the match and affected the performance of Moroccan players, particularly at a decisive juncture.
“This situation had a significant impact on the normal course of the match and on the players’ performance,” the federation said, adding that it expects the governing bodies to rule on whether Senegal’s actions breached competition regulations.
Morocco head coach Walid Regragui was more blunt in his assessment, describing the walk-off as damaging to the image of African football. “The image we’ve given of Africa is shameful,” he said after the match, criticising his counterpart for encouraging the protest.
Thiaw later acknowledged the controversy and issued an apology, conceding that emotions had run high. Speaking to beIN Sports, he said the reaction was a mistake made in the heat of the moment and accepted responsibility for instructing his players to leave the pitch before ordering them back.
CAF has since issued its own statement condemning the incident, calling the walk-off “unacceptable” and “inappropriate.” The continental body confirmed that it is reviewing all available footage and will refer the matter to its disciplinary structures for possible sanctions against those found culpable. FIFA president Gianni Infantino also weighed in, stressing that leaving the field of play in protest is not tolerated under the Laws of the Game and that respect for match officials is fundamental.
The fallout has been particularly heavy for Brahim Díaz, who publicly apologised to Moroccan fans for missing the penalty. In an emotional message, he said the moment would be difficult to overcome, taking full responsibility for the miss and acknowledging the pain felt by supporters who had hoped to see Morocco lift the trophy on home soil.
Beyond the walk-off, additional incidents were noted in official reports and broadcast footage, including disputes involving ball boys and members of the Senegal bench during the tense final minutes, further complicating CAF’s post-match review.
While legal challenges to match outcomes are rare and rarely successful in football, Morocco’s move signals the depth of frustration surrounding a final that many believe will be remembered as much for its controversy as for Senegal’s triumph.
Senegal clinches 2nd AFCON title with narrow win over Morocco
