AFCON Row Deepens: Morocco Claims Referee Was ‘Told Not To Penalise’ Senegal – Report

Last Updated:April 05, 2026, 7:20 PM IST

Fresh reports claim referees were told not to penalise Senegal during their protest. Morocco were later awarded the title after CAF ruled it a forfeit.

Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo whistles a penalty as Senegal’s forward #10 Sadio Mane and Morocco’s forward #10 Brahim Diaz react during the Africa Cup of Nations final (Credit: AFP)

Just when you thought the AFCON final controversy couldn’t get any messier, here comes another twist.

Amid the ongoing debate over the “real winner” of the AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco, fresh reports suggest match officials were instructed not to penalise Senegal during their dramatic on-field protest.

What Happened in Rabat

The chaos unfolded in Rabat, where Senegal, led by coach Pape Thiaw, walked off the pitch for around 15 minutes. The protest came after a controversial late penalty was awarded to Morocco, sparking fury among players and unrest in the stands too.

When play resumed, Brahim Diaz attempted a cheeky Panenka from the spot, only for Edouard Mendy to deny him with a stunning save. Senegal then went on to win 1-0 in extra time, courtesy of a thunderous strike from Pape Gueye.

But that wasn’t the end of it.

CAF later ruled Senegal’s walk-off as a forfeit, stripping them of the title and awarding the win to Morocco — a decision that Senegal have since challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Morocco Throws a Spanner in the Works

Now, a report by RMCSport has added a fresh layer to the saga.

The report states that after appealing the initial disciplinary ruling, Moroccan federation secretary general Tarik Najem submitted claims involving alleged behind-the-scenes pressure on the referee.

At the centre of it is Olivier Safari, who reportedly made explosive remarks during a CAF executive meeting in Tanzania.

“Olivier Safari is said to have acknowledged that institutional instructions were given [during the interruption] to the match referee not to sanction Senegalese players with a yellow card… ‘in order to preserve the match’ upon their return to the field.”

The implication, if true? Two Senegal players, already on bookings, could have been sent off had the rules been strictly enforced.

More Questions Than Answers

So, was the referee under pressure to keep the game alive at all costs?

While no yellow cards were issued to Sadio Mane’s teammates, CAF’s appeals jury ultimately leaned on another rule: declaring that leaving the pitch amounted to abandoning the match — a technicality that handed Morocco the title.

But with new allegations surfacing, the AFCON final saga is far from over.

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