Morocco has announced plans to pursue legal action following the dramatic conclusion of the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday, which saw Senegal walk off the field in protest over a late penalty decision before eventually claiming victory.
The final, held in Rabat, ended 1-0 in favour of Senegal after extra time. Morocco had a chance to win with a last-minute penalty awarded at the end of regulation, following a VAR review that confirmed a tug on striker Brahim Diaz’s shoulder. Senegalese players left the pitch in protest, causing a 14-minute delay, and when play resumed, Diaz missed the decisive penalty.
In a statement, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) said: “The Royal Moroccan Football Federation announces that it will pursue legal action with the Confederation of African Football and FIFA to rule on the walk-off of the Senegalese national team from the field during the final against the Moroccan national team, as well as on the events surrounding this decision, following the referee’s awarding of a penalty that was deemed correct by all experts.”
The federation added: “This situation had a significant impact on the normal course of the match and on the players’ performance.”
Although Morocco has not specified its exact objectives beyond formally contesting the match events, the incident has drawn widespread criticism from football authorities. Fifa President Gianni Infantino and CAF both condemned the behaviour of Senegal’s players and coaching staff, emphasising that walk-offs and violent reactions have no place in football.
