Khaberni - The withdrawal of Senegal players from the field during the match against Morocco in the Africa Cup final caused widespread legal controversy, as the regulations indicate that such behavior should have led to an automatic declaration of the loss for the "Lions of Teranga".
In an unprecedented scene in the history of Africa Cup finals, the Senegalese coach Pape Thiaw became outraged when a penalty was awarded to Morocco in the last minute of stoppage time in the second half, prompting him to ask his players to return to the locker room as a protest against the referee's decision.
The match was halted for more than ten minutes before the "Lions of Teranga" players, led by Sadio Mane, returned to the field under the pressure of official interventions.
In a highly charged atmosphere, Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved the penalty taken by Moroccan star Ibrahim Diaz, extending the game into extra time, which ultimately handed the title to Senegal.
According to Article 82 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations, the game was not supposed to continue after several Senegal players voluntarily left the field.
The regulations state that "if a team withdraws from the tournament for any reason, fails to attend the match, refuses to play, or leaves the field before the scheduled end of the game without the permission of the referee, they will be considered losers and will be definitively excluded from the tournament".
Article 84 details the penalties: "Any team violating the provisions of Articles 82 and 83 will be definitively excluded from the tournament, and considered losers with a score of 3-0. If the opposing team had a larger lead at the time the match was stopped, that score will stand".
Whereas Article 85 explicitly states: "The team that violates these provisions will be expelled from the tournament".
Article 148 states that "if a team refuses to play or complete a match they started, they shall be fined at least $20,000 USD, and shall be considered losers of the match per principle. In more serious cases, the team is also excluded from the current competition. This is subject to the provisions of the tournament regulations".
Furthermore, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), responsible for setting the rules of the game, states penalties imposed on players leaving the field: a player must be warned if they delay resuming the game, leave the field without the referee's permission, or excessively delay resuming play.
According to information from the French network "RMC Sport", FIFA will not take any disciplinary action in this matter, as the decision returns to the African Football Confederation "CAF", responsible for organizing the Africa Cup tournament.
Today, Monday, "CAF" released a statement hinting at imminent penalties against Senegal: "The African Football Confederation condemns the unacceptable behavior of some players and officials during the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final between Morocco and Senegal, held last night in Rabat. The Confederation strongly condemns any inappropriate behavior during matches, especially that directed against the refereeing team or match organizers. The African Football Confederation is reviewing all footage and will refer the matter to the competent authorities to take appropriate action against the convicted".
Senegal's national team, specifically its coach, faces severe penalties, with the coach potentially facing suspension for several matches, in addition to financial fines,
while the debate remains about the legitimacy of continuing the match between Senegal and Morocco after a clear breach of Article 82.
