The controversy surrounding the January 18 final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat has taken a dramatic new turn, following revelations by French newspaper Le Monde, which has obtained and reviewed five official match reports that sharply contradict decisions taken by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Nearly three months after the ill-fated final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, the winner of the tournament remains uncertain, with the case now before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

CAF’s Appeal Committee stripped Senegal of  the title, while the latter has headed to CAS

A Night of Chaos in Rabat

What was meant to be a showpiece finale between Senegal and hosts Morocco descended into confusion amid torrential rain and rising tension. Senegal initially secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory, denying Morocco a second continental title, fifty years after their first triumph.

However, the match was marred by extraordinary scenes late in regulation time. With Morocco awarded a contentious penalty in the dying minutes, Senegalese players and officials protested vehemently and eventually walking off the pitch in defiance. The interruption lasted approximately 14 minutes before play resumed.

Morocco missed the penalty, and Senegal went on to clinch victory in extra time through Pape Gueye. What appeared to be a historic triumph for the Lions of Teranga soon spiralled into a legal and administrative crisis.

Morocco’s Protest and CAF’s Reversal

In the aftermath, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation filed two formal appeals to CAF, arguing that Senegal’s temporary withdrawal constituted abandonment of the match—an offence punishable by forfeiture under CAF regulations.

On March 17, CAF’s Appeals Committee upheld Morocco’s argument, ruling that Senegal had forfeited the match. In a stunning and unprecedented decision, the committee awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory, effectively overturning the on-field result.

Senegal’s football authorities swiftly rejected the ruling and escalated the matter to CAS, insisting that the decision violated both sporting integrity and due process.

Le Monde Investigation Raises Alarming Questions

The investigation by Le Monde has now cast serious doubt on the handling of the final by CAF and its officials.

Drawing on five official reports, including those of the referee, match commissioner, and security officials, the newspaper describes a match “spiralling out of control,” with regulations allegedly ignored in favour of avoiding public embarrassment.

The most critical moment, according to the reports, occurred in the 97th minute. Officials, including Tunisia’s Khaled Lemkecher and Egypt’s Ahmed Osman, reportedly confirmed that Senegal “abandoned the match” by retreating to the dressing room, a clear violation that should have triggered immediate forfeiture.

Yet, despite this, the match was allowed to continue.

Even more controversially, the report alleges that behind-the-scenes “instructions” were issued to the referee not to send off Senegalese players who had already been cautioned when play resumed. The aim, it is claimed, was to prevent a potential scandal during the live broadcast of the final.

CAF Under Scrutiny

These revelations have exposed deep contradictions within CAF’s handling of the incident. While the Appeals Committee eventually ruled in Morocco’s favour based on the abandonment argument, the decision to allow the match to continue on the night—and to validate Senegal’s eventual victory before reversing it weeks later—raises questions about procedural consistency and governance.

Observers say the situation highlights a troubling pattern of “ad-hoc” decision-making, where written regulations appear secondary to immediate reputational concerns.

CAS Decision Looms

The case now rests with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, whose ruling could have far-reaching implications for African football governance.

If CAS adheres strictly to the evidence contained in the official reports cited by Le Monde, there is a strong possibility that Morocco could be definitively awarded the title. Conversely, Senegal will argue that the match’s continuation effectively nullified any claim of abandonment, making CAF’s later reversal legally untenable.

A Crisis of Credibility

Beyond determining the rightful winner, the controversy has plunged African football into a broader credibility crisis. The AFCON final, traditionally a celebration of the continent’s footballing excellence, has instead become a case study in administrative confusion, conflicting interpretations, and institutional fragility.

At stake is not just a trophy, but the integrity of competition governance on the continent. As the football world awaits CAS’s verdict, one lesson is already clear: when rules are bent in the heat of the moment, the consequences can linger long after the final whistle.

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The Confederation of African Football has announced a major overhaul of its flagship competition, with the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to expand from 24 to 28 teams.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe disclosed the decision on Sunday following an executive committee meeting, describing it as part of the body’s commitment to elevating African football to global standards.

Motsepe said the expansion would create more opportunities for countries across the continent while ensuring that top African players worldwide return home to compete at the highest level.

“This is about our commitment to world-class football, bringing together the best African players from across the globe to compete on the continent,” he stated.

However, the CAF boss did not provide details on how the new 28-team format would be structured or when the expansion would take effect, leaving questions over qualification pathways and tournament scheduling.

Continuity for 2027, New Cycle from 2028

Motsepe confirmed that the 2027 AFCON will proceed as planned with co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, maintaining the current 24-team format for that edition.

In a significant shift, CAF also announced that another AFCON tournament will be staged in 2028, after which the competition will move to a four-year cycle—aligning more closely with other major international tournaments.

CAF Nations League Introduced

In addition to AFCON reforms, CAF revealed plans to introduce an African Nations League starting from 2029. The new competition will be held annually, with a 16-team final tournament staged every two years.

The initiative is aimed at improving the competitiveness, structure and commercial value of the African national team football.

“We have to stop this situation where African fixtures are not predictable, consistent and reliable,” Motsepe said. “We must also focus on developing football in regions like East Africa, which has enormous potential.”

A New Era for African Football

The proposed changes mark one of the most ambitious restructurings of African football competitions in recent years, with CAF seeking to expand participation, enhance organisation and create a more predictable football calendar.

While details are still emerging, the decisions are expected to have far-reaching implications for national teams, qualification formats and the overall growth of the game across the continent.

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The Confederation of African Football said it would implement changes and improvements to its statutes and regulations that would ensure that the farcical ​scenes at January’s Africa Cup of Nations final do not happen again.

CAF ‌president Patrice Motsepe said the changes would strengthen trust and confidence in its referees, VAR operators and judicial bodies, but did not give concrete details.

The announcement followed a meeting of CAF’s executive committee ​in Cairo on Sunday and came on a tumultuous day for the organisation ​as its general secretary resigned.

African football’s governing body has been battling ⁠a crisis of confidence after its Appeal Board stripped Senegal of the Cup of Nations ​title in a decision that has been met with widespread derision.

Senegal were ruled to have ​forfeited the final in Rabat on January 18 after walking off the pitch in protest at a potentially decisive penalty awarded to Morocco. They returned and scored a goal in extra time to ​win the game 1-0.

The decision is being challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport ​and if Senegal win back their title it will be a further blow to CAF’s credibility.

“CAF has ‌taken ⁠extensive legal advice from top African and international football lawyers and experts, to ensure that the CAF statutes and regulations adhere to and implement global football best practices, on and off the field,” Motsepe said in a statement on Sunday.

“This is important for the ​respect, integrity and credibility ​of African referees, ⁠VAR operators and the CAF Disciplinary Board and Appeal Board.

“CAF is working with FIFA for the ongoing training of African referees, VAR ​operators and match commissioners so that they are as good ​as the ⁠best in the world… CAF has made significant progress over the past five years in implementing governance, ethics, transparency and managerial best practices,” the CAF president added.

More precise details on the ⁠changes ​and how they would avoid a repeat of the ​Cup of Nations final controversy were not given by Motsepe, who earlier this month admitted his organisation was struggling ​with perceptions about its integrity.

-Reuters

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