AFCON 2025: Morocco FA President Explains Why They Continued Playing After Senegal’s Withdrawal
- The Royal Moroccan Football Federation President has spoken about the AFCON 2025 final incident
- Morocco and Senegal have dragged the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports after CAF’s verdicts
- President Fouzi Lekjaa has explained why Morocco continued playing in the final after Senegal’s withdrawal
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation President, Fouzi Lekjaa, has explained why Morocco agreed to continue the AFCON 2025 final after Senegal’s withdrawal.
Senegal disrupted the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final on January 18, 2026, after Pape Thiaw ordered his players to leave the pitch to protest referee Jean-Jacques Ndala’s protest.
Source: Getty Images
Ndala awarded a penalty to Morocco minutes after disallowing Senegal’s goal, prompting a walkout from the Teranga Lions’ players in the final match.
Sadio Mane intervened after speaking to Mamadou Niang, Claude Le Roy and El Hadji Diouf and told his teammates to return to the pitch and finish the match, which they obliged.
Brahim Diaz missed the penalty and pushed the match to extra time. Pape Gueye scored the winner in extra time, and Senegal won their second AFCON trophy.
CAF investigated the incident and sanctioned Morocco and Senegal with fines for the federation and suspensions and fines for Thiaw and other players.
FRMF appealed the judgment with four requests, two of which CAF rejected. The CAF Appeal Board stripped Senegal of the title and awarded Morocco a walkover victory.
The decision sparked massive reactions across Africa, and the Senegalese Football Federation, FSF, appealed the verdict at the Court of Arbitration for Sports.
Fouzi Lekjaa speaks about the AFCON saga
Moroccan FA President Fouzi Lekjaa has spoken about the incident surrounding the aftermath of the AFCON 2025 final incident as the controversy drags on.
CAF Disciplinary Board appeared to favour Senegal, CAF Appeal Board ruled in favour of Morocco, and a final verdict is expected from CAS.
Lekjaa has expressed confidence that Morocco will reign supreme at CAS, as they have irrefutable evidence against Senegal during the final match.
“Morocco has strong and documented arguments regarding what happened in the final. All elements of the incident were recorded precisely, through official reports and video footage, in full respect of the regulations. The withdrawal of the Senegal team is officially established,” he told Al3omk.
Source: Getty Images
One of the talking points against Morocco was agreeing to continue the match after Senegal’s withdrawal, which violates the legal doctrine “quod approbo non reprobo”, which means “that which I approve, I cannot disapprove.”
Lekjaa argued that the Atlas Lions were legally bound to continue as they do not want to violate the same regulations that hold for Senegal.
“Morocco had to accept the resumption of the game, refusing to continue would have exposed us to the same sanctions under the regulations,” he concluded.
CAF President sends message to Senegal
Legit.ng previously reported that CAF President Patrice Motsepe sent a message to Senegal after their appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sports.
The South African businessman assured the FSF that CAF will respect CAS’ decision even if it overturns the Appeal Board judgment.
Source: Legit.ng
