Morocco’s football federation has announced plans to pursue legal action following the chaotic end to Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, insisting that Senegal’s decision to walk off the pitch significantly affected the outcome of the match.
The hosts believe the 15-minute stoppage, caused by the walk-off of Senegalese players in protest over a late penalty decision, disrupted the flow of the game and impacted player performance.
Senegal went on to win the final 1–0 at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal in the 94th minute to secure the Teranga Lions’ second AFCON title.
Penalty controversy and walk-off
The dramatic sequence unfolded deep into normal time when Morocco were awarded a penalty following a VAR review. Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf was penalised for pulling Brahim Díaz during a corner kick.
In response, most Senegal players, acting on instructions from head coach Pape Thiaw, walked off the pitch in protest. They later returned after several minutes, allowing the match to resume.
Shortly after, Díaz stepped up to take the penalty but missed with a poorly executed Panenka, a moment that proved decisive as Senegal capitalised moments later.
Morocco to seek redress
In a statement, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said it would formally approach the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA to challenge the events surrounding the walk-off.
“This situation had a significant impact on the normal course of the match and on the players’ performance,” the federation said, adding that the penalty decision itself had been deemed correct by football experts.
Morocco head coach Walid Regragui criticised Senegal’s actions, describing the walk-off as damaging to African football’s image. Thiaw later apologised, admitting his reaction was made “in the heat of the moment.”
Brahim Díaz reacts
An emotional Brahim Díaz apologised publicly for his missed penalty, saying the moment left him deeply hurt.
“My soul hurts,” the 26-year-old said. “Yesterday I failed and I take full responsibility. This wound doesn’t heal easily, but I will keep going forward for my country and the people who believed in me.”
Very Dark Man speaks on violence
Popular Nigerian social commentator Very Dark Man also 
weighed in on the incident, condemning the scenes of disorder and warning against the normalisation of violence in football.
In a video shared on social media, he described the pitch invasion attempts and clashes involving fans and officials as “dangerous and unacceptable,” stressing that football disagreements must never escalate into violence.
He urged African football authorities to enforce discipline, saying players and supporters alike must be held accountable to prevent similar incidents in future tournaments.
CAF and FIFA respond
CAF, in a separate statement, described Senegal’s walk-off as “unacceptable” and “inappropriate”, confirming it is reviewing match footage and will refer the matter to relevant disciplinary bodies.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino also condemned the behaviour of some players, officials, and supporters.
“It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner,” Infantino said. “Violence cannot be tolerated in our sport. We must always respect the decisions taken by match officials.”
Additional footage from the match showed tense exchanges on the sidelines, including disputes involving ballboys and substitute players as rain-soaked conditions added to the disorder.
As investigations and possible disciplinary actions loom, the AFCON final — meant to celebrate African football — now faces scrutiny over conduct, officiating, and accountability at the continent’s biggest football stage.
