MBABANE – The football world has been rocked by the news that Senegal have been officially stripped of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
On Tuesday, March 17, 2026, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board overturned the result of the final, awarding a 3-0 default victory to the tournament hosts, Morocco.
The decision stems from the chaotic events of the final held on January 18, 2026, in Rabat. While Senegal originally won the match 1−0 in extra time, several factors led to the reversal. Deep into second-half stoppage time, with the game at 0−0, the referee awarded a controversial penalty to Morocco. In protest, the Senegalese players, led by Coach Pape Thiaw, walked off the pitch for approximately 15–20 minutes. Although Captain Sadio Mané eventually persuaded his teammates to return and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved the penalty, the move proved fatal under regulatory scrutiny.
Morocco filed an appeal citing Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON Regulations, which state that any team refusing to play or leaving the ground without permission forfeits the match. While an initial hearing in January resulted only in fines, the Appeals Board ruled this week that the walk-off constituted an automatic 3-0 forfeit.
This is an unprecedented ruling. While teams have previously been disqualified for fielding ineligible players, this is the first time a side has lifted the trophy and celebrated a victory, only to have the title stripped months later.
The decision has sparked a firestorm of criticism across Eswatini. Taking to the Times of Eswatini Facebook page, local fans did not hold back in their assessment of the continental governing body.
“Senegal beat them in open play… Not boardrooms… and the whole world celebrated with Senegal,” read one local comment.
Another fan argued that while the physical trophy might move to Rabat, the merit remains in Dakar: “CAF is a joke. That is one reason why the world will never ever take us serious.”
Others echoed this sentiment, suggesting that, “Senegalese are African champions; this is what I saw on that night; unless football is played in CAF office not on the pitch.”
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has already signalled its intent to fight the decision. Senegal has a 10-day window to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland.
On social media, the players remain defiant. Defender Moussa Niakhaté posted a photo of the trophy with a blunt message to the authorities: “Come and get it! They’re crazy.”
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