The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has withdrawn Ousmane Keïta, chairman of its Disciplinary Committee, from all proceedings related to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Morocco and Senegal.

The development was disclosed by Egyptian journalist Mohamed Saïd, who is regarded as being close to CAF’s internal processes. The decision comes amid ongoing reviews of the controversial incidents that marred the final in Rabat, which Senegal won 1–0 after extra time.

The showpiece match was overshadowed by a series of contentious moments, including on-field protests, heated confrontations and post-match scenes that generated widespread debate across the African football community.

Sources indicate that Keïta, a Senegalese national, was stepped aside to eliminate any perception of a conflict of interest and to reinforce confidence in the integrity and transparency of the disciplinary process. CAF’s Vice-President from Kenya has since been appointed to take charge of the case and oversee the investigation.

CAF is currently studying official match reports, video footage and other relevant materials from the final, with possible disciplinary action still under consideration. The continental body has stressed its determination to uphold the integrity of its competitions and ensure respect for match officials and regulations.

No sanctions have been announced so far, but CAF is expected to conclude its deliberations in the coming days, following what has been described as one of the most controversial AFCON finals in recent history.

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Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gueye has dismissed claims that players of the Teranga Lions were poisoned ahead of their dramatic victory over Morocco in the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Speculation over alleged foul play intensified after three Senegal players, Krépin Diatta, Pape Matar Sarr and Ousseynou Niang, reportedly fell ill and collapsed shortly before and during the final in Rabat.

The unexplained incidents fuelled rumours across social media and sections of the media as Senegal were forced into late changes and a makeshift line-up for the title decider.

The final itself was marked by controversy and high drama, including on-field protests, a brief walk-off and a missed Panenka penalty by Morocco’s Brahim Díaz, further adding to the tension surrounding the match.

However, Gueye moved to quash the poisoning allegations, stressing that Senegal’s preparations and security measures were thorough and professionally handled.

“The Senegal team’s diet was strictly controlled,” the midfielder said, insisting there was no basis for the conspiracy theories circulating after the match.

Despite the pre-match medical scare, Senegal held their nerve and claimed a 1–0 extra-time victory, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal to secure the country’s second AFCON title.

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Speculation surrounding the dramatic withdrawals of Senegal players ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco has resurfaced, but the allegations remain unsubstantiated and unsupported by medical evidence.

Five days after the match, comments attributed to Ismail Jakobs in an interview with German broadcaster Sportdigital, and later relayed by Sport, have reignited suspicions that several Lions of Teranga players may have been poisoned before the final. However, no official investigation, medical report or independent finding has corroborated such claims.

Three Senegal players were affected by sudden illness on matchday. Krépin Diatta was withdrawn after falling ill on the morning of the final, while Ousseynou Niang collapsed during the warm-up and was escorted off the pitch.

Reports also suggested that Pape Matar Sarr experienced discomfort at half-time. The incidents caused visible concern within the Senegal camp but were handled immediately by medical personnel.

Jakobs was quoted as saying the episode was “certainly not a coincidence” and suggested the players’ symptoms went beyond what he described as “simple food poisoning.” However, he stopped short of accusing any party, and crucially, no evidence has since emerged to support a theory of deliberate poisoning.

Medical examinations conducted on the affected players failed to detect any toxic substances or abnormalities.

Diatta himself confirmed earlier in the week that extensive tests carried out during his hospitalisation revealed nothing unusual.

“I was hospitalised and had several tests, but they didn’t detect anything,” he said in an interview with Seneweb, adding that he was later discharged after further observation.

Football authorities, including CAF, have not issued any statements supporting claims of foul play, and no formal complaint or investigation has been announced. In the absence of medical proof or official findings, the allegations remain speculative.

While the circumstances surrounding the players’ illnesses were unusual and understandably unsettling, experts caution against concluding without verifiable evidence. For now, the withdrawals remain classified as unexplained medical incidents rather than proven acts of misconduct.

As emotions from the dramatic AFCON final continue to settle, officials and observers have urged restraint, stressing the importance of relying on confirmed facts rather than conjecture in assessing one of the tournament’s most controversial episodes.

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